Family, friends and well-wishers bided Madam Theresa Nnede Ebenyi, matriarch of the Ebenyi Family, final farewell on Friday, September 8, 2023.
By Anayochukwu Agbo
It was a cocktail of emotions at Ikem, Isiuzo Local Government Area of Enugu State as family, friends and well-wishers bided Madam Theresa Nnede Ebenyi, matriarch of the Ebenyi Family, final farewell on Friday, September 8, 2023.
Honourable Dr Kingsley Ebenyi, the eldest son and a former member of the House of Representatives representing Isiuzo and Enugu East Federal Constituency, his siblings and the Ebenyi Family spared no cost to give their matriarch a memorable farewell. Family and friends from far and near honoured the late Madam Theresa Nnede Ebeyi, Nee Eze, popularly called Egoigwe Nwanyi and Oshirioha, nick names that captured her philanthropy and large heartedness. Aged 80 years, Oshirioha, 1943 – 2023, passed through transition on 7th June 2023 by 12am and her children affirm “her days are worthy of celebration.”
Dr Ebenyi, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, said the Bible passage, “Before l formed thee in the belly l knew thee and before thou comest forth out of the womb l sanctified thee” (Jeremiah 1:5), was true of their mother. “Guided by this prophecy, her life was well lived and worthy of celebration with thanks and worship to God for creating and giving us a mother like her.”
Mother Theresa Nnede Ebenyi (JP) was born in 1943 to the family of late Mr. Emmanuel Eze Odo in Umuenyenwu Kindred in Ogor, lkem. She grew up under the watchful eyes of her parents at Ape Farm Settlement. She did her primary education at St Joseph Primary School, now known as Umuaram Central School lkem. She did her primary education simultaneously with dress making under the guardianship of late Mrs. Rebecca Abangwu and her husband, late Chief Richard Abangwu, both from Eha-Alumona.
A core Catholic, Mama Ebenyi was born and brought up in a good Christian family. She was in the Choir and Legion of Mary, and grew to become a leader and patron of the Children Presidium.
From the Abangwu household she got married to late Chief Fidelis Uzu Ebeyi (Ochiri Ozuo) of Umunweze, Umuaram-Ikem. Interestingly, both Mama and husband were domestic staff of the Abangwus and wedded in Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Ikem. Their marriage was blessed with nine Children, one of which, Ifeanyi, is late.
Having undergone training as a seamstress, the young Theresa was a hardworking woman. The good training she received led her into marital life. She operated shops at ‘Office’ and in Orie Market. Through these businesses she contributed financially to the upbringing of the children.
According to her children, “Mama Egoigwe Nwanyi” as she was fondly called by her mates, was “a mother to all and many generations. As a woman of peace, she loved God so much and always fulfilled her obligations in her Christian life according to her belief. She was very conspicuous in the Umunweze family where she was married to and printed her name in the sands of time. She was a great giver, just as peacemaking was her watchword. She ran her home religiously, took good care of relations, friends and even enemies. She was very jovial, ever ready to sacrifice her last to see that those in need were satisfied. Her magnanimity earned her the pet name Oshirioha. She didn’t joke with strangers, welcoming and always ready to serve all.
“Mama always eschewed evil; indeed, she was a Dorcas of her generation. She would rather starve so that others would eat; she raised many children outside her biological children to the glory of God. In fact, Mama has left a legacy to us and a vacuum that needs extreme grace to continue from where she stopped,” says Hon Kingsley who remembers his mother with great nostalgia:
MOM WAS MY COUNSELOR
“My beloved mother was a woman of strength and dignity. She had no fear of the future. She was indeed a woman of grace. A virtuous woman and a mother who organised her home and marriage with enduring wisdom. She was one of the strongest, bravest, and kindest women to grace this planet. Without her, I wouldn’t be where l am today; I wouldn’t be the person I am; and I wouldn’t have the life I have. She was everything to me and there’s no way I could ever quantify the impact she made in my life. I always heeded her prayers and they worked for me.
She was loving and had great affection for me and all my siblings. My Mom was a friend, a counsellor and prayer intercessor for all her children. She was generous and loving to everyone who made contact with her. My Mom also loved her husband with great honour and their bond was very strong and visible. As a matter of fact, when my father took his exit to the great beyond about nine years ago, l was afraid for Mom. My fear was whether she would survive the separation. Therefore, her survival till the creator called her home this year is to me a testament.
My late Mom operated an open kitchen such that nobody visited our house without being served food. This particular virtue earned her the nickname, “Eshiri oha” which the direct translation means “one who cooks for the crowd.”
She was a strong devotee of the Catholic faith and remained faithful to the end despite being denied partaking in the Holy Communion for years and the conferment of the popular “Ezinne” title because she refused to disown one of her daughters who married a none Catholic as demanded by the parish.
No number of eulogies will capture the legacy of my late Mom because she was exceptional in every respect. I’m however consoled that the good life she lived will earn her a place in paradise. Adieu Mom!”
Similarly, Princess Nkemdilim Akonne, Kingsley’s wife, said her mother-in-law was exceptional. “A mother-in-law like no other! Mum to ‘the favoured’! Mom of all moms! May your soul rest in peace knowing you had a good relationship with Mother Mary and her son. The teachings you shared with the Catholic women will sure be remembered. Rest on!”
Good Night to a Dynamic Mother
Her first daughter, Stella Chinyere, eulogized her Mom thus: “‘Nne Eze Odo’ as I fondly call you, you are the best mother anybody can wish for, your kindness and good heart towards everyone that come your way cannot be over emphasized.
You can forgo your food and give them to the needy and remain hungry. One can hardly find out because you always hide it with smiles and joy.
Mama Ebenyi, your devotion to Mother Mary has already given me the consolation that the blessed mother of God has led you to his Son Jesus Christ where you will rest in peace.
Indeed, you were a good Christian and always attended morning masses. Mama, you left an indelible mark in the life of your children. If there is reincarnation, I will always stand out for you to be my mother. Adieu Mama! Adieu Nwa Eze Odo! Adieu my best companion! Till we meet to part no more.”
The Best Mum in the whole Universe
Likewise, Caroline Ngozi, her daughter, affirms her Mom’s sterling qualities and the vacuum she has left behind. “Sometimes death comes when we still have plans of tomorrow, an inevitable end indeed. Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult things we can go through, so much more if it is a parent. But God is the author of life and he is the author of death, his will been done!
No words can express the feeling of losing a mother. Mama, you are a good, caring and a peaceful woman. You suffered for us when we were young; You woke up early to prepare akara; You even sold garri at Orie Market just to help our father in training us.
Death took you and didn’t allow you eat the fruit of your labour. You treat everyone as your own children.
I was planning with my kids to do your 80th birthday but in vain. I didn’t know this year mothering Sunday was the last we will celebrate with you. On Sunday 5th June, I woke up crying that you died!
I called you and you said you won’t leave us now, you were also preparing for mass. I was happy to hear from you not knowing it will come to pass. Mama, you are so dear to us but who am I to question God?
On Tuesday morning, my sister Stella called that Mama was seriously sick and they had rushed her to hospital. I rushed out of my working place seeing you lying restless and battling with pains. I couldn’t hold my tears; I wish it was a dream but it’s reality till you struggled and died 12 midnight being 7th June 2023.
It was as if my world has scattered around, I called your name but you didn’t wake up. You left my siblings and I in this world. Who am I going to visit in the village! Who will welcome and cook for me when I come back! Who will console me when I’m in pains!
Chai! Mama, please wake up, my heart is scattered. I don’t know who I will call mother, the shock is too much for me to handle. I will forever miss you precious Mum. Jeenkeoma Ezigbo Nnem. EGO IGWE NWANYI. The best mum in the whole universe.”
Her son, Chidi, says she’s his religion.
“Mama, I am writing not tell the world how amazing you were or how great you were, because doing so will not be enough. I may not be able to describe with accuracy your level of kindness and love for humanity and that is because your good work is speaking for you through all that have been blessed with your presence on earth.
I am so blessed to have you as a mother. You were a symbol of love, humility, tolerance, kindness, peace and forgiveness. You taught me to love humanity and the secret of sharing my bread with mankind.
However, we can’t have you forever. You lost one of sons, Ifeanyi Chukwu, at a very young age. I am consoled with the belief that you are with him in heaven. He has waited so long for you. I know he must have embraced you with great joy and both of you are watching over us with smile and love.
You played a great role. You shared your bread. You gave hope. You showed kindness. You practised tolerance. You demonstrated forgiveness. You loved humanity.. You are my religion. REST IN PEACE.
Ebere had a divine visitation. Her son, Ebere Peter, had a divine visitation from his mother on the night of her transition.
“You chose not to go immediately and visited my house by 9pm. Having been clothed by Angels of God in garment, you made yourself visible only to your little angel, your Ogboo, Rikki Ego-Igwe Jr, who was shouting, ‘Mummy, see Ogboo! See Grandma at the gate! See her in the pallor, Grandma you are welcome!’
“Hearing that, I took my hand gloves and went to the gym, hoping to push out the thought that you will not make it. I prayed and asked God to show mercy and give me the opportunity to fulfill the promise I made to you on 1st June 1998 by 11am, when I lost my twin brother, Paul Ifeanyichukwu Ebenyi, after you have suffered so much to keep him alive. You gave out everything you had to save him including your original butterfly sewing machine before me to enable you take him to Elele in Rivers State for prayers as his case had defiled medicals.
You never ceased to remember him that in April 2023, during my family’s last visit to you, you told my wife, Destiny, that you wished Ifeanyichukwu were alive; that his children would be running about, like hers, but nobody can blame God. Your love and care made my wife to wish her children a mother-in-law like you.”
In his tribute, Peter Mba, governor of Enugu State, described her as “an outstanding woman who contributed immensely to the development of the community… We thank God for the long and eventual life she lived and all the lives she touched in her community and as religious leader.”
The overwhelming presence of Ikem People, Ndisiuzo, Enugu State and well-wishers from all over Nigeria was a testimony to a life well lived in the service of her family, the community and God.
May her Soul make progress in perfect Peace!
