Mazi, David N. Iphie,
Executive President, ABIA UNION USA
It is with a deep sense of loss but with gratitude to Almighty God that I received the news of the demise of your Dear mother Ezinne (Madam) Rose Oyiridiya Elendu. I imagine the grief that must have engulfed the family at the news really devastating.
The Igbos, as do many others in different areas of the World, believe that children should bury their parents and not the other way round, No matter in what direction the adage ends up, there is always sadness in knowing that you will not see a loved one again, until, of course, that “Morning”
Mama Rose, built a strong foundation of family, friends and joys that will always last. She was kindhearted, resourceful, devoted woman and a community leader. Always prepared to impact Christian values to anyone who cared to listen. I really enjoyed the moments and warmed welcome visit I spent with her in Alayi January 2006, though limited.
Your motherliness transcended your family to others particularly my wife and daughter which you have always shown love and given useful advice. Your interest in Abia Union knew no bounds in that you gave encouragement “Remember your all brothers and sisters”
On behalf of Abia Union USA, I say please ELENDU FAMLIY take heart and accept our heartfelt condolence and take solace in the fact that your mother lived a fulfilled life worthy of emulation.
I can offer nothing else than to wish MAMA a deserved, peaceful rest and to the entire Elendu Family, take heart and be courageous.
Mazi David N. Iphie,
Executive President, ABIA UNION USA
Samuel U. Ogbu-Nwobodo, LL.M
Ijele II of Nkanuland
Lawyer
[EULOGY TO EZINNE, ROSE OYIRIDIYA ELENDU]
The alchemy of life and indeed life’s transition, breeds only questions in the minds of us mortal. Answers have been proffered by many wise ones so to speak, but unfortunately, such answers have lead to more questions. The conundrum of life and death has proven intractable to the very best of us humans. Nonetheless, life will remain and so also will death, and we must find a point in the great continuum, as to wherein our solacement lies.
In a recent dream of mine, a dream that was perhaps prompted by my thoughts about the recent deaths of a number of good friends. A thought that was rekindled by the sad news of the death of the matriarch of the Elendu’s family, Ezinne Rose Oyiridiya Elendu. I was struck by the question of what happens to the memories in the minds of the dead. Good memories, as well as bad ones. Memories acquired from the dead’s lifelong experiences. Most importantly, fond, loving, and sweet memories the kind only a mother could have of her kids. I wondered in my dreams whether death is capable of erasing forever memories, especially of this kind, in the mind of the dead. And then in the same dream, I found myself instructing myself that MEMORIES, outlive us. That through memories we continue to live even after death, haven cross pollinated our memories with that of others who still live.
When I woke up, as I pondered the significance of this dream, I was struck by the primal similarity in the description of Energy and God, by both fields of Quantum Physics and Theology. According to Quantum Physics, everything in the universe is made up of the exact same thing, energy. Energy can never be created or destroyed, always was, always has been, and always will be, moving into form, through form and out of form. Rational theology on it’s part, tells us that the universe including us humans, was created by God. And that God is that, that always has, always been, and always will. That God can never be created or destroyed, always moving into form, through form and out of form. Same description.
Theology also tells us that we were created in God’s own image. Meaning that if God is energy, then we are made up of energy, beyond the atomic composition of the human flesh. Meaning also that we are all connected as spiritual beings made up of energy, both in life and in what we call death. So that since God, or if you will, energy, can never be destroyed, we that were made in his image can never be destroyed, not even by death. As a result our memories stays even when we pass on. These memories allows us to live spiritually through the people we left physically behind. As result our good memories lives on, so also our bad ones.
We can therefore not speak of our dear Ezinne as dying. Though she is dead in the realms of physical understanding, the memories we shared with her still actively live with us. When one thinks of Ezinne, one cannot help but think of love, strength, fellowship, and selflessness in all her dealings with all that she encountered. These are her qualities that formed the basis of the memories she created in all of us who knew her closely. These are the basis through which she now lives on with us. These are the qualities she instilled in her offsprings, who she has left with us, and for whose lives we remain grateful to God and her.
Mama lived with the great presence of God, and with such simplicity and greatness that can only be found in water, and therein lies her magic, her miracle. On a personal level, mama loved me very much, like one of her biological children, and so also my whole family. Mama was always concerned and visibly worried about how I was doing, especially when I allowed the pressures of living to keep me from visiting her as often as she would want me to. Mama I will really miss you. At her departure, nonetheless, she left us all closer to God, and our community a better place to co-exist.
As the great Oxford University, Professor of Divinity, Henry Scot Holland, wrote before he died in 1918, “death is nothing at all. I have only slipped away into the next room. I am I, and you are you. Whatever we were to each other, that we still are. Call me by my old familiar name, and speak to me in the easy way you always used. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.... What is death but a negligent accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?...I am waiting for you for an interval- somewhere near, just around the corner. All is well”. Lord Buddha commenting on dying before he died in 483 B.C. asked this question; “Now that at last I emerge from the vast and endless suffering, is that the best time for you to grieve?. Eugene Elendu and his entire family, and indeed all of us must answer this question for Ezinne, all in the negative. For as Plato wrote of Socrates; “there is great hope that death is a blessing”. The great Bible also makes it clear in Ecclesiastics, that there is time for everything, at time to be born and a time to die.
We must now stagger on the best we can, only doing those things that will please our creator who mama served with exemplary dedication. I must say good-bye to you our dear Ezinne. I imagine the angles are accompanying you now and I ask them to take good care of you because you deserve their protection.
Samuel U. Ogbu-Nwobodo, LL.M
Ijele II of Nkanuland
Lawyer
Chief J.C. Okeigwe
Akuzuo Oha 1 of Alayi
OUR HEART ARE WITH YOU ALL
It is not how one lived on this earth that matters but how well one lived.
When one demises, others echo and eulogize the decency and character of that individual. This euphemistic testimony of eulogizing our beloved ones is precautionary to us living. Sometimes we learn from it and sometimes we do not.
The truth of the matter is that one demises, there is nothing more gratifying and honorable than the echo of decency from those still alive. To all late chief Bernard Elendu’s family, your Mom Madam Rose Oyiridiya Elendu made all of you proud for she lived A DECENT LIFE. She was born with decency and she died with decency.
Madam Rose Elendu was not only like an In-law to me but she was like a mother to my wife and a grandmother to my children. She was always there with us both during periods of triumph and tribulation. She never waive red her love and support for me and my family. We will miss her dearly. Her untimely death not only shocked those of us closer to her but it rocked our entire community. Death is a mystery hard for any human to understand but God. Only God knows and has answers to the demise of our beloved ones.
To Eugene Elendu, I say to you hold your head high for you gave her the best. She was proud of you as a son and will continue to be proud of you to eternity.
To Priscilla Elendu, thank you for all your daily routine of taking care of her.
And to Chibueze & others and all the grandchildren take heart for God’s time is the best
May her Soul Rest In Peace?
From: Chief J.C. Okeigwe
Akuzuo Oha 1 of Alayi
Lolo Helen Okeigwe
“Oke-nwanyi”
MAMA YOU WILL BE MISSED
Mama Rose Oyiridiya Elendu has a special place in my heart. She was not just an in-law; she was like a mom to me and like a grandmother to my children. She was a fun loving woman to be around. I will not forget how exuberant and joyous mama was during my daughter’s graduation party.
Mama was a religious, God fearing woman who cared and loved anyone who came around her. Each time I visit her, she would make sure I am given the best hospitality.
Mama has a special name for me. “Oke nwanyi”. She appreciated everything I bought her. Mama would wear it to show off and she would make sure everyone around her understood how appreciative and valuable the gift was to her.
I will always remember her as a fun, loving religious and caring mother. I will always love and remember her.
May your soul rest in peace.
Your daughter In-Law
Lolo Helen Okeigwe “Oke-nwanyi”