The children of the late matriarch of the Odu family of Ogbe-Ise Quarters, Onicha-Uku, in Aniocha North local government area of Delta state, on Wednesday, December 28, converged on St. Michael’s Catholic Church in the community for the first remembrance anniversary thanksgiving service of their mother.
A Catholic Priest among the children, Very Reverend Father Augustine Odu, officiated the Mass.
In a sermon, a former Parish Priest of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Onicha-Uku, Reverend Father Charles Uganwa, said during the ten years he spent in the community, he got so close to the late Lucy Odu and could testify to the sterling qualities she possessed.
Father Uganwa stated that the late octogenarian was a mother figure to him, as she offered useful pieces of advice that helped him to effectively run the parish whenever the need arose.
He affirmed that the late Lucy Odu was a devout christian who religiously practiced the Catholic faith, culminating in one of her children becoming a Priest, adding that she was an honest woman never afraid to speak the truth, no matter whose ox was gored.
The fiery Priest noted that though the late Mama was from Rivers state, it was difficult for anyone to differentiate her from the Indigenes of Onicha-Uku as she fluently spoke the language of the people and adopted to the custom, traditions and norms of the community.
Father Uganwa said the late Lucy Odu would for long be remembered for the love, peace and unity she institutionalized to the family, which had kept her children closely knit, stressing that she was not just married to her husband, but the entire Odu family.
He called on women to emulate the sterling qualities of the late mother of nine, insisting that they must inculcate the right values in their children to make them responsible members of the society,
Father Uganwa advised the children of the departed matriarch of the Odu family to sustain the love and unity their mother imparted to them and prayed God to grant her soul eternal rest.
In his remarks, Very Reverend Father Augustine Odu, who is the Parish Priest of the Holy Family Catholic Church, Ogwashi-Uku and Director of Vocation, Diocese of Issele-Uku, thanked all who attended the remembrance service, even at short notice.
Father Odu said he and his siblings would forever miss their mother, though she still lived in their hearts, because of the good upbringing she gave them after losing her husband at the age of 38.
The late Lucy Odu died on October 15, 2021 at 80, leaving behind Fred Odu, Charles Odu, Engr. Francis Odu, Sylvester Odu, Very Reverend Father Augustine Odu, Mrs Agnes Onwordi and Anthony Odu.
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