By Izunna Okafor

It was indeed a moment of reflection and fanfare as the remains of Late Mrs. Josephine Nnenna Nwachukwu, the mother of the President General of Ukpor was committed to the mother earth amidst encomium.
The burial ceremony which held from 28th to 31st March took place at her husband's residence Rosewood Lodge Umuhu Ukpor, in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
In his condolence letter to the bereaved, the Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Most Rev. Hilary Odili Okeke extolled the deceased, who he said her good works in the community, her selfless service to the humanity and her great contributions in the things of God bear witnesses that she fully understood the nature of the heavenly race and the rewards therein; and hence ran her own well. Registering his regret that he could not make it to the burial due to some unforseen circumstances; the bishop further consoled the Nwachukwu family for the loss, reminding them that their mother lived a fulfilled life, even as he charged them to sustain the good legacies and footsteps she left behind.
Earlier in his homily during the burial mass which which took place at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Ukpor Center, the representative of the bishop who is also his Personal Secretary, Rev. Fr. Celestine Okonkwo highlighted three primary significance of holding a funeral mass for the dead, which according to him, are: to appreciate God for the life of the person; to plead that He grants the deceased eternal rest and everlasting joy in His kingdom; and to plead with Him to console the bereaved and give them the fortitude to beae the loss. He further charged every mortal to prepare his way while alive and determine for himself, where to spend his eternity, as no one knows when his own time will come.
Describing his mother as a quintessential heroine, the first son of the deceased who is also the President General of Ukpor, Chief Emmanuel Nwachukwu went memory lane to highlight the various ways in which their mother had proved to be a hardworking and virtuous woman of honour, both before, during and after the Nigeria/Biafra war; as well as before and after the death of her husband, Chief Joseph Nwachukwu in 1999. He enumerated some of the legacies left behind by the deceased which he avowed (on behalf of the family) to uphold and pass unto their own children and grand children, even as he tributarily wished her eternal repose in the bosom of the Almighty, and also registered their heartfelt appreciation to those who came to commiserate with them, from far and near.
In their separate speeches, the second son of the deceased, Pastor Ifeanyi Nwachukwu, the last son, Chief Sunday Nwachukwu, and her daughters: Mrs. Flommy Ekwuy Obiekwe and Mrs. Ogochukwu Nwosu who highlighted the qualities that characterized their mother noted that she was cheerful, generous, perky, goodhearted, accessible, welcoming, playful, encouraging, hardworking, faithful, peaceful and most importantly, prayerful. They further extolled her life which they described as a fulfilled one indeed; and confessed they would forever miss her so dearly and sustain her leviathan legacies on earth.
Daughters-in-law of the deceased: Mrs. Paulyn Nwachukwu, Mrs. Ify Nwachukwu and Mrs. Ijeoma Nwachukwu, as well as the grand children, Miss. Ebere Nwachukwu and Mr. Nonso Nwachukwu among others, also attested to the luminous life of Ma Josephine and promised to toe her path which they acknowledged would also enable them live fulfilled lives.

Among others, the burial ceremony which was well-attended witnessed the presence Ex-Governor James Ibori of Delta State; the Senator-elect of Anambra South Senatorial District, Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah; Senator-elect of Anambra Central Senatorial District, Senator Uche Ekwunife; the speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Barrister Rita Maduagwu; the Managing Director of APAMS Ltd, Sir. Kevin Chukwumaobi, in addition to other 'A' list industrialists, politicians, and stakeholders from within and outside the state.