IT was a celebration of life as hundreds of sympathisers from all walks of life thronged the sleepy Umuokogbuo Community in Eluama, Isuikwuato, Abia State, for the burial of a Community leader, Madam Margaret Onuaku Umunna Edeyi.

The mourners came from far and near, including Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Minna, Warri, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Aba and Umuahia to pay their respect to Madam Margaret Onuaku Umunna Edeyi, mother of Isaac Umunna, the News Express Publisher.

Among the dignitaries who condoled with the Umunna family and the Community on Saturday, May 18, 2019, included Peter Obi, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Vice Presidential Candidate and former Governor of Anambra State. In his condolence message, Obi said: “On behalf of my family, I wish to sincerely condole you and your family on the death of your beloved mother. May God Almighty whom it pleases to call her at this time grant her eternal rest and grant the family fortitude to bear her irreplaceable loss.”

In his message, Nnamdi Okonkwo, the MD/CEO of Fidelity Bank PLC, said: “Please accept my condolence and take solace in the fact that she was a kind and caring mother, a devout Christian and respected community leader. She will be greatly missed. May the Almighty God grant her eternal rest and to the family, the fortitude to bear the loss. Amen.”

In the same vein, Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser on Media & Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, wrote: “Very sorry to hear this. The pain of losing a mother is unbearable. I can tell. Please be comforted. Mothers are from Heaven. She has simply gone back home.”

A devout Catholic, who hardly missed early morning Mass, Maggie was widely known as a virtuous woman, outstanding for her devotion to God, her family and humanity. During the packed funeral service which preceded the reception, she was hailed as one of the pillars of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Umuokogbuo, where the service took place.

Maggie, who died peacefully at the age of 103 on Wednesday, March 13, 2019, was survived by five children, several grandchildren and great grandchildren, as well as a host of relatives. Her last child, Isaac Umunna, is Publisher of the influential daily online newspaper, News Express Nigeria (newsexpressngr.com).

Maggie’s memory has been immortalised with the establishment of the popular blog –Maggie’s Blog, published every Tuesday and Friday in News Express Nigeria.

– May 29, 2019 @ 17:45 GMT |