Fides Media Living the Faith
By Amarachi Okpunobi
It was an atmosphere filled with mixed feelings of grief but thanksgiving to God for a life well spent as the family of Ngana in Umudala Villaga, Nanka,Orumba North Local GovernmentArea, Anambra State on Friday, July 27, 2018, laid their son, father, uncle, brother and nephew, Late Ikenna Bonaventure Ngana, Iykehymers as fondly called to eternal rest at Sir and Lady J.C Ngana’s compound. Until his death, Late Ikenna was a medical doctor.
The burial which began with a concelebrated Holy Mass at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Nanka was presided over by the Chief Shepherd of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. P.C. Ezeokafor. In his homily, the Catholic prelate charged the faithful to accept death as the utmost will of God, bearing in mind that He alone gives and takes life. Consoling the family of the deceased, the prelate encouraged them to find joy in the life of late Ikenna whom he said lived and walked in the path of the Lord. Bonaventure lived a fulfilled life and he prepared for his death”, he eulogised.
Also in his homily earlier in the Vigil Mass, Most Rev Ebelechukwu Okpaleke, Bishop Emeritus of Ahiara Diocese, testified of the fulfilling life of the deceased. “Bona never gave up on his dreams and he had great faith in God. He was a pace setter with long suffering” he said. He lauded the parents of the deceased who trained and nurtured him to what he was before death. “You gave him a virtuous life and His life wasn’t wasted”, he consoled. He also charged the faithful to live righteously as life is too short to live in waste and sin. The prelate further appreciated the students of St. Anthony Catholic Comprehensive Institute, Agulu, SACCI who came en mass to mourn with their Manager, Rev Fr. Ugochukwu Ngana over his brother.
Expressing his heartfelt gratitude, the deceased’s brother Rev. Fr. Ugochukwu Ngana, thanked all who regardless of the unfriendly weather condition, came to mourn with him and his family. In a special way, he thanked the Bishop of Awka diocese, Most Rev. P.C Ezeokfaor whom he said was a big part of his brother during his life time. He also thanked HRH Igwe Okaokwulu of Nnokwa, Prof.Josephat Ogbuagu, Provost Emeritus of Federal College of Education and Technical, Umunze and other distinguished personnel’s who sympathized with his family. Finally, he thanked the almighty God for the life of his brother and for the success of the burial.
Interments followed suite at the family compound where friends, in-laws and well-wishers of the family came to pay final respects to the deceased and to sympathize with the family on 27th and 28th July, 2018. The family, accompanied by friends and relatives went for an outing Mass in thanksgiving to God for the life and burial of Dr Ikenna Bonaventure Ngana.
