Ngene matriarch ascends @85

Mixed emotions play out at the home of Dr Maxwell Ngene as his mom and matriarch of the family, Ezinne Elizabeth Uzoamaka Ngene, ascends to celestial realms.

Ezinne Ngene, from Umuichiatu, Umuaniagu-Achime in Amechi Awkunanaw, Enugu South LGA, lived to a ripe old age of 85.

Although Dr. Ngene is grateful for his mother’s long life, he nevertheless feels a sense of loss, a mix of sadness and emptiness.

The death of my dearly beloved mother is really painful, he said.

“It’s not easy to describe the pain, the hurt, the emptiness, and the void resulting from her departure. Our prayer is that God grants us the courage to soldier on.”

Ezinne Ngene passed on peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of Saturday, 1st July 2023, the family said in a statement.

A devoted Christian, community leader and role model, she earned other faith titles besides Ezinne, including Nnediogo and Nne Okwukwe.

Secret of longevity

Maxwell remembers his mother as a pillar of support for the family.

She retired as a community health officer, serving at the old Park Lane General Hospital, as well as health centres at Amechi, Ozalla and Obe.

“Her lifestyle that I recommend is her sacrifice for us and the support she gave her late husband and the entire family.

“Without her, most of us wouldn’t have got a quality education,” he said.

Overall, he describes his mom’s virtues as “hard work, resourcefulness, love for God, and education.”

What did he remember as the secret of her longevity? It didn’t come as a surprise that hygiene factor made the list.

“She served God with dedication, and made cleanliness a priority. She took her bath very early say at about 5.00 am every day. My mother maintained a healthy lifestyle throughout her life.”

Apart from Maxwell, late Elizabeth Ngene had two other surviving sons, Oliver and Emmanuel. Her two daughters, Ada and Gladys, are both married. She enjoyed her many grand and great grandchildren before her passage.

The family will soon announce burial arrangements, Dr. Ngene said.