THE PERSONAL Assistant to Deputy Governor Sam Ode, Mr Abu Owunebe, last weekend buried his mother, Mama Eyum Owunebe in Ugbogbo, the capital of Apa LGA.
Mama Owunebe, popularly known and call Enema, died on April 12, 2024 at the ripe age of 105.
The rites of passage of Mama Owunebe, signed by Mr Owunebe, a Personal Assistant to Deputy Governor Ode, on behalf of the Owunebe family; began with a service of songs held on May 8, 2024 at the family compound in Ugbokpo.
Mama, a devoted Methodist, was buried at the family compound after a funeral mass held at the Methodist Church Nigeria, Ugbokpo, where a thanksgiving church service was held to conclude the rites of passage on Sunday, May 12, 2024.
Mama Owunebe, described as an “extremely affectionate, caring and passionate mother”, was born in 1919 in Ikobi, under the then Idoma Native Authority, now Apa LGA of Benue State as the fourth daughter of Mr and Mrs Onyaplekwu Agbochenu.
Mama, an industrious farmer and beautiful damsel of her time, got married to the late Pa Owunebe Ijimbli who hailed from Ugbokpo, with the union blessed with seven children: Kasuwa Owunebe (daughter); Onyeche Owunebe (daughter); Asala Owunebe (daughter); Abu Owunebe (son); John Owunebe (son); the late Emmanuel Owunebe (son); and Haruna Owunebe (son).
She is survived is by five of her children, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Among the grandchildren include Moses, Sunday, Ojama, Ngbede, Onyemocho and Ogangwu all of Kasuwa Adanu Ogangwu; Rebecca, Sarah, Martha, Audu, Ezekiel, Ehi, Ofugocho, Ojoma, Ocholongwa and Solomon, all of Onyeche Paul Eineje; Matthew, Alex, Esther, Ochanya, Abiye, Obiabo, Owunebe, Ichekpa and Ofugocho, all of Asala Emmanuel Aboh.
Others are Blessing, Ngbede, Onyeche Ochofio, Mercy, Oche, and Oyigocho, all of Abu Owunebe; Ofugocho, Gloria, Omia, Godday and Goodness, all of John Owunebe; Mary, Shadrach and Patience, all of Emmanuel Owunebe; Gideon, Joy, Emmanuel, Faith, Matthew and Owunebe, all of Haruna Owunebe.
According the Abu, Mama’s first son, her death, despite her ripe age, “was a great loss to the family. She will be missed by all of us including the grandchildren and the great-grandchildren.”
