ECUADOR

Isla Trinitaria

Quito

Guayaquil

Fr. Tobias

NIGERIA

La semplicità è la forma della vera grandezza

My Mother

EZINNE PATRICIA ANAEKPERECHI IHEJIRIKA (NEE NWAOGUGU).

…at that moment Yahweh was going by. A mighty hurricane split the mountains and shattered the rocks before Yahweh. But Yahweh was not in the hurricane. And after the hurricane, an earthquake. But Yahweh was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake, fire. But Yahweh was not in the fire. And after the fire, a light murmuring sound. And when Elijah heard this, he covered his face with his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

For us, our mother Patricia was like a silent gentle presence. A breeze that gently blew and quietly retired to its source. Touching every heart it encounters in a profound way without invading spaces, eroding structures or unnecessarily confronting the powers that be.

Born to Wilfred and Margaret Nwaogugu of Ezuhu Nguru Mbaise on 17th March, 1945. Mama was baptised by Father Cloonan as an infant on 15th April, 1945. She received the sacrament of Confirmation on 27th November, 1957 and was wedded to our father Late Mr. Tobias Adimigboanaa Ihejirika on the 17th of February 1973.

Patricia was practically raised by her elder sister Late Mrs Sarah Agbaegbu of Umuodaa Nguru. Her mother died when she was only 7years old. Her sister practically adopted her and brought her up like her own daughter with a fierce and jealous love. She was carried along with her sister to every station where she and her husband Late Sir Austin Agbaegbu worked. They lived together in different stations in present Imo, Abia, Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers States. She learnt well and drank from the fountain of love flowing from her sister-mother. A figure that became an icon for her till her death. We are sure today that both sisters (mother and child) are now united at the sweet feet of Jesus.

She attended different schools and colleges in and across the Eastern and Southern Regions of Nigeria but sat and passed her First School Leaving Certificate in 1960 at St. Teresa’s Primary School Umuanuma Nguru, her teacher’s Grade II certificate at the then famous St. Joseph’s College Aba in 1971 and an Advanced Teacher’s Certificate (ACE) from the University of Nigeria Nsukka in 1985. In her days as a student, she was distinguished in mathematics, fine arts, child-counselling and leadership studies.

Our mother got married to our father Tobias Adimigboanaa Ihejirika in February, 1973. She got herself fully integrated in the Ihejirika family immediately, taking his relatives as hers and treating them with love and care. They were to live together in total love and dedication till death parted them in August, 2001. They were easily to be considered as twins; sometimes, teaching in the same school, always to be seen together, working in their farms together, frequenting the same friends with one heart, one mind and one soul. We never saw our parents contradicting each other. We never witnessed the lightest verbal fight among them. They thought us to pray not with ordinary words, but with ardent examples. A father and a mother who could go to daily morning mass and say fifteen decades of the rosary every day. Who were epitomes of charity, loving and caring for every other person as if they were their own very children, brothers, friends and relatives. They gave us an example in their studies and continuous interest in human development. They taught us how to work: we remember with nostalgia when we were growing up and had our barns of yam, our huge farms of cassava, our gardens of vegetables and pepper, our palm plantations etc. When we were very little kids, at a point in the family, we were buying only a few ingredients from the market to make up our daily menu. Our house-hold was practically self-sustaining.

This self-sustenance was never limited to only the members of the family. Patricia and Tobias gave birth to seven biological children, but never could any one come to the house at any point without seeing at least three other children living with us, studying with us, just on the same level as “true children” and never as “maids or servants”. There was never a preferential treatment meted to the biological children. Many of these foster children are here today to testify to the universal motherhood of our mother. A true mother who knew how to extend the confines of motherhood to all children in need of help and affection.

As a teacher, Mama taught for many years in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA, and especially at the different schools in Amuzi Community. She was later to be transferred to Aboh Mbaise LGA where she was to serve as school head till her retirement in 2005. She was a diligent teacher who always meticulously prepared her lessons, cheerfully taught the children and yet studiously searched for better ways of improving her lessons. When she became a head teacher, she was not a mere manager of a school, but a mother and a social crusader both to the teachers, children and community. On several occasions she was invited and had to intervene and settle family problems of her staff and pupils. On other occasions, she organised with village heads and community leaders and accomplished projects beneficial to the school and the entire community.

On the socio-religious realm, we came to know our mother as a “Church person”. Before Holy Trinity Obibii was created as a Parish, she served for several years as the secretary of the station CWO under Late Mrs D. D. Chukwunyere. We still recall how she used to work from morning till night to realise the projects of the Christian Community. After the creation of our Parish, at a point, the women voted her to be their president. She was to serve as president parish CWO for many years until recently she refused to accept to be re-elected on the grounds that there is need for other people to lead also. She was afraid of falling into redundancy and not being able to render the best of services to the women who loved and trusted her so much. This year 2009, these women honoured her with the “Ezinne Award”. The only title we have ever seen her cherish so much. A title that seems to summarize all that she has wanted to be – a good mother or a true mother.

She belonged to various religious and social groups where she served in different capacities, especially as president, secretary, president or treasurer at different times. She was a member of the NUT, Nguru-nweafor Native Teachers Association, Idinotu Social Club, CWO, Mother of Perpetual Help and Obiwuruotu Home and Abroad Meeting etc. Even in very small capacities, she organised children at the block-rosary level to say the rosary every evening.

Our mother was like a gentle breeze that never made noise, never shouted, never complained and never accused any body. She was like the voice of the conscience. Powerful but invisible. Listened to but never heard. If you do not know her, you may very easily ignore her when you meet her because of her simple life style. She never wanted to attract any attention to herself. She never wanted to show-off. She never called for anything for herself. A generous person who always had a list of needy people ready for us whenever we came home on our visits. She always wanted us to help one person or the other. She always called us on phone to thank us whenever she heard that we had rendered help to somebody even without consulting her. Giving something to a person in the village was always like giving a gift to our mother!

On Sunday the 20th of December, our sisters went to say good morning to our mother and found her almost un-conscious on her bed. She was only saying her ejaculatory prayers and not responding to their calls and cries. We took her to two hospitals in a space of four days. We tried to give her the best possible care and love. But just like the gentle breeze, she blew away, she silently closed her eyes with prayers on her lips. We mourn you Mama because we miss you. Otherwise, we can only say: it is well! You lived life to the full. Your life-style was consistent with your principles from the beginning till the end! Your generous heart never worried for yourself but for others. We are sure you are in heaven because there is no other place for a person like you! We shall always love you! Rest in peace till we meet again in heavenly Jerusalem.