Sussana Alakweonye Goes Home in Grand Style
The remains of Mrs. Sussana Uzougbo Chinasa Alakweonye (aka Nnenne, El Shaddai, Shasha) were laid to rest at her husband’s compound, Amiyi Obinohia in Isuikwuato local government area of Abia State in a blaze of glory.
The deceased, aged 76 years was honoured with a three-day befitting burial ceremony by her children.
It commenced on Friday, October 25, 2024 at 7.00pm with a well-attended Service of Songs conducted by St. Silas Methodist Church, Amiyi Obinohia. Thereafter, a memorable all-night wake followed immediately.
The all-night wake set the stage for the funeral service, which held at St. Silas Methodist Church, Amiyi Obinohia the following day, Saturday, October 26, 2024.
in his sermon at the wake titled, “Dealing with the Spirit of Wickedness”, the presiding Minister, Very Rev. Brown Onyekachi enjoined all and sundry to shun wickedness and all forms of evil and live a life that would glorify God and draw people to salvation.
He urged Christians to remain good disciples of Jesus Christ by promoting love, unity, peace, progress and righteousness wherever they are.
He described the deceased as a devout Christian, prayer warrior, cheerful giver, a lover of peace and a mother to all who contributed immensely to the service of God and humanity.
At the end of his sermon, songs were sung, including offerings and prayers for the deceased’s family.
After the Service of Songs, the place turned into a carnival of sorts right away as a galaxy of distinguished personalities, relatives, men, women, youths, in-laws, friends and well wishers from far and near turned out in their numbers for the all-night wake with unparalleled zest.
The members of Otu Obi Age Grade of Amiyi Obinohia ably led by their chairman, Chukwuma Ogbulokoro added colour to the wake as they rallied round their member and first son of the deceased, Ozoemena Alakweonye and the entire family.
The all-night wake was a beauty to behold. Even the heavy rainfall that night could not disrupt it.
There was no dull moment. It was so lively with over merriment and extraordinary razzmatazz till dawn.
All those present had the fun of a lifetime as they ate, drank and danced throughout the night.
Renowned compere, Onwuchekwa Ohia coordinated it with panache to the admiration of all those present.
The following day, Sussana Alakweonye’s final journey on earth commenced with the departure of her remains from the mortuary to her late husband’s compound at Amiyi Obinohia in the morning.
Her body was received on arrival by a large crowd of people and when her posh white casket was opened, family members, relatives, in-laws, Methodist Church and a host of others paid their last respect to the deceased.
Thereafter, her remains left for St. Silas Methodist Church, Amiyi Obinohia for a funeral service conducted by the Host Minister, Very Rev. Brown Onyekachi.
The church was filled to capacity with people from different parts of the nation and in the Diaspora.
During funeral oration and testimonies, the deceased family, kinsmen, in-laws and Methodist Church payed glowing tributes to the deceased describing her as a hardworking, loving, caring, generous, honest and God-fearing woman who was well-known for her broad signature smile and unparalleled hospitality.
According to them she welcomed family members, friends and others with open arms and contagious smile.
In her biography read by her daughter, Joy Obioma Alakweonye, her children expressed their deep grief and profound love for their late mother recounting the special bond and joyous moments they had adding that her death has created a big vacuum that no one can fill.
They said they would miss her sorely more than words can describe but took solace in the fact that she lived a fulfilled life.
In his tribute, the second son, Sampson who returned from abroad because of his mother’s burial said that their bond with their late mother can never be broken, not even by death.
He said that her spirit would always be with them and promised to carry her spirit along in anything they do till they meet again to part no more.
In his tribute, Ikechukwu, the eldest person in the entire Alakweonye family described the deceased as a loving, hardworking, caring, kind-hearted woman and a lover of peace adding that she brought up her children very well in the way of God.
He said that she has fought the fine fight of faith and prayed God to grant her gentle soul peaceful rest in His bosom till they meet to part no more.
Speaking, the Host Minister, Very Rev. Brown Onyekachi testified that the deceased was not only a prayer warrior but also a cheerful giver whose generosity knew no bounds.
He urged her children to sustain their late mother’s shining virtues and prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
After the reading of her biography, there was Evangelism offering, followed by the sermon delivered by the new Presbyter of St. Silas Methodist Church, Amiyi Obinohia, Very Rev. Chima Chukwu titled, “Are you Ready to Die” taken from Hebrews 9: 27-28.
He said that it is obvious that every living soul must die and urged all to be ready to die because death can come at any time.
According to him, death has no specific time, specific place, specific style or form. He admonished all and sundry to live their lives as if they are living the last moment of it bearing in mind that they do not know when death will knock on their door.
He said that the uncertainty surrounding death teaches mankind that no one can cheat death.
Hear him, “the Bible says that It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement. (Hebrews 9:27) Death is inevitable. You can never run away from death, no matter where you are. Death is everywhere. Death knows everything. Death sees everything. Death is impartial. Death is merciless. Death can come at anytime irrespective of your status. Death is not discriminatory”.
To this end, he enjoined people to be ready to die because the owner of their life can come at any time to take it.
He told the people as children of God who know full well that death is an appointment with God to make peace with the Lord Jesus Christ because that would make them not to fear the slavery of death.
He said that Jesus Christ will come again and when he will come, the righteous will see him face to face.
He charged the people to use the opportunity of their gathering for the funeral service of Sussana Alakweonye to make real peace with Jesus Christ now that they are still alive.
He assured them that if they make real peace with Jesus Christ, they will not be afraid of death any time it comes because they know where they are going.
He reminded people that it is good for them to always know that this life is just a passing by stressing that a day shall come when death and hell would deliver up the dead, which were in them.
He rounded off by saying that it is important to be where they are supposed to be when Jesus Christ will come to ask death where are your stings?
There were offering and prayer for the bereaved family at the end of the sermon.
The Minister in-charge, Very Rev. Brown Onyekachi prayed God to bless the children of the deceased, daughters in-law and grandchildren for their immense love and sacrifice for her and to replenish whatever they spent in trying to save her life as well as in giving her a befitting burial.
He also implored God to bless the work of their hand, comfort and protect them during this trying period of their life.
In his vote of thanks, the first son of the deceased, Ozoemena Alakweonye on behalf of his siblings (Samson and Obioma) and the entire family expressed profound gratitude to all those who contributed to the successful burial ceremony of their beloved mother in one way or another, especially St. Silas Methodist Church, Amiyi Obinohia as well as all those who came to pay their last respect to her from far and near.
He prayed the Almighty God to lead them back safely to their various destinations.
He described their late mother as a devout Christian and a very kind woman who loved sharing whatever she had with others.
He said that she was always guided by her faith in God in whatever she did throughout her lifetime and promised to sustain her enviable legacies.
After the funeral service, the remains of Sussana Alakweonye were taken to her late husband’s compound and committed to mother earth.
After interment, the mammoth guests and sympathizers were treated to an unforgettable reception. They ate, drank and danced in honour of the departed for a good life well lived.
So many distinguished personalities attended the wake, funeral service and reception.
The burial ceremony climaxed with a Thanksgiving/Outing Service at St. Silas Methodist Church, Amiyi Obinohia on Sunday, October 27, 2024.
Though dead and buried, Sussana Alakweonye’s good deeds can never be forgotten by her family, the entire community and all those who knew her. Her loving memory would continue to inspire and uplift so many people for a very long time.
Speaking, Chukwuma Ogbulokoro the chairman of Otu Obi Age Grade, Amiyi Obinohia who came all the way from Minna, Niger State said they came in their numbers from different parts of the nation to honour and commit the mother of their member, Ozoemena Alakweonye to mother earth.
He described the death of Sussana Alakweonye as a huge loss to the family, Otu Obi Age Grade, Methodist Church, Amiyi Obinohia, Isuikwuato, Abia State and beyond.
He said that they would greatly miss her loving kindness, hospitality, godly devotion and infectious smile.
He commiserated with their member, Ozoemena Alakweonye and his siblings on the death of their beloved mother on behalf of Otu Obi Age Grade and urged them to be consoled by the fact that she lived a fulfilled life.
He described her as a woman of extraordinary faith, lover of peace and a mother of all.
He expressed confidence that she is already resting in the bosom of God to rise again on the resurrection day and prayed the Almighty God to comfort them.
The late Sussana Alakweonye is survived by Ozoemena, Sampson, Obioma, Joy Enyidiya (daughter in-law), Judith (daughter in-law), grand children and a host of other relatives.
