When Chuck Palahniuk said “We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever, the goal is to create something that will” little did many understand what he meant but in reality, the camaraderie and show of love shown during the burial ceremony of late nonagenarianMadam Osaruyi Obasogie is one that is capable of making “death” bow in shame if it is human, seeing how the living made a caricature of its famed sting.
As the families of the late Madam Alice Osaruyi Obasogie of the Oregbeni community in Ikpoba Okhia local government area of Edo State turned out in large numbers to express the depth of their love and how they would miss the matriarch of the Obasogie family.
The late Madam Alice Osaruyi Obasogie, during her lifetime, was a staunch Christian and community leader who affected several lives positively with her values and show of motherly affectation to everyone around her.
When news of her death was announced at the age of 90, it came as a rude awakening to many. Howbeit, she was eulogized by everyone in attendance during her lying in state as she was finally laid to rest in the most befitting manner at a well-attended burial ceremony organized by her children and kinsmen.
The week-long burial ceremony was capped with an eye-popping reception held in one of the popular event centers in Benin City with guests, mostly the movers and the shakers of the society from across the country.
The late Madam Obasogie, fondly called “Mama” as a result of her matronly disposition and care, whether to an outsider or otherwise, is survived by seven children, 21 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
One after the other, in an emotion-laden voice, full of sorrows and trying to overcome the shock loss of a confidant, her children, beginning from the eldest to the youngest among them, poured encomiums on her.
Mr. Monday Nosayaba Obasogie, Mama’s eldest son and second child described her as “compassionate and peaceful”. Mr. Raphael Obasogie used several eulogies to describe his late mother, saying she was sweet, kind, loving, and accommodating.
Also, Mr. Wilson Obasogie painted a picture of the closeness between the two of them despite the distance, noting she was so generous with her time that she would not fail to call to check on him, adding he will most certainly miss her northerly love.
In her eulogy, Comrade Mary Edowaye Obasogie, Mama’s fourth child and second daughter, said she was her best friend, stressing that her memories will forever live with her. She went on to describe the late mother as a perfect homemaker who invested a lot in the children to ensure they turned out right.
Others spoke glowingly about the late Madam Obasogie, including Mr. Felix Egbe Obasogie and Mr. Edwin Obasogie, the fourth and last son respectively, and described her as a hard-working, patient, and not quick-to-judge kind of person who will be missed.
We at La Fete, commensurate with the Obasogie family in this moment of grief and pray that the Good Lord will the family the fortitude to bear the loss of Mama; may her gentle soul rest in peace.