By Ononye VC/Philip Balepo
All roads literally led to the St William Catholic Church,Nkwelle Ezunaka where a burial mass was celebrated for the final journey of late Dr Engr Charles Chukwuma Nwakoby who died recently at the age of 66.
Dr Engr Charles Nwakoby was the elder brother to the Onitsha Archdiocesan Judicial Vicar, Rev. Fr. Joe Nwakoby.
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha,most Rev Valerian Okeke,was represented by the Chancellor of of Archdiocese of Onitsha,Very Rev Fr Prudentius Emeka Aroh while the Bishop of Aguleri diocese most Rev Denis Isizoh was also represented.
A good number of other priests,friends and sympathisers were present to bid him goodbye.
In his condolence message,Archbishop Valerian Okeke described late Engr Charles Nwakoby as a faithful christian who served God with an unreserved commitment.This he said,could be noticed by the way he related to others when he was on earth.
According to the Archbishop,Engr Charles was a revered gentleman within his profession and among his community.
The Archbishop further said,”He guarded his family very well and he was a model of a father.It is my prayer that,having put his gifts at the service of God and humanity,the Good Lord will grant him a place of rest”.
Also,other sympathisers described the late Charles as a devout Catholic whose life was an embodiment of excellence, passion and commitment. He was said not to be just a responsible husband and father,but that he was always there for his in-laws as well as a friend to all, irrespective of class, religion or gender.
Charles they said, was ever humorous, generous and above all, prophetic throughout his life time.
In her tribute,wife of the deceased,Mrs Chika Nwakoby hailed her husband saying that he lived a fulfilled,made peace with God and reconciled many with Him adding that the vacuum he left in the family would be difficult to fill.
In his tribute,very Rev Fr Dr Joseph Nwakoby said the demise of Engr Charles has left a big space in their family such that each and everyone one of them will miss him.Fr Nwakoby thanked the Archbishop Valerian Okeke,Bishop Isizoh,his brother priests,family members and others who came to sympathise with them during the funeral.
The late Dr Engr Charles Nwakoby is survived by his wife Chika,four children,aged mother,siblings and relatives.
May his soul rest in peace.
