Praying for his wife has intensified our grief – Fr Makama says as husband and wife die within one month

By Olivia Obijiaku
The Assistant Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Parish Wusasa, Zaria Rev Fr Kelvin Makama delivered the homily at the Mass of wake for late Mrs. Gloria Udeh at the parish, Tuesday, 23rd January, 2024 where he acknowledged their increased pain as a result of the demise of Mrs. Udeh barely two weeks after the passing of her husband, Mr. Chibuzor Udeh.
The homilist empathized with the bereaved family, parishioners, members of Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement of Nigeria (CCRN), colleagues and friends of the deceased consoling that grief is a prize for love.
He said, “Today, grief is like a weight upon our souls because of the death of our friend, our sister Gloria Chibuzor Udeh, more so because today is the 23rd of January 2024. It is exactly one month that her husband died. I remember that morning, while we were going to Shika, Fr received a called that he has returned back to his maker.
So, our grief has been intensified because on this day we are gathered to equally pray for the wife. While she struggled at her last moments, she was surrounded by friends and family and earnest intercessions were made by those around her. Many prayed and some fasted that God may keep her alive. Truly we wanted our sister to be alive. We wanted her to recover with strength. God answered, not in the way that you and I wanted. He answered in His way.
Dear friends in Christ, grief is a prize we pay for love. Losing a loved one is one of the hardest things we can pass through in life, especially as regards our peculiar situation in Sacred Heart Parish Wusasa. She and her husband were both dedicated members of the band. She and her husband would hardly miss our Tuesday Adoration. Organizing the instruments and singing at the Adoration largely depended on them. It is our prayer that God of all consolation consoles the family, especially her mother who lost her husband in August last year, her son-in-law in December and now her daughter.”
Speaking further, the Parish Priest, Rev Fr Cletus Dauya who accompanied the family to bury Mr. Udeh in January 2024 prayed God to lead them safely. He added, “When we came back from Chibuzor’s burial, we went to St Matins to see Gloria. She was getting much better and she said to me, ‘Fr, thank you for travelling to bury my husband.’ Honestly, we thought that Gloria would be better and we would console her but God decided to take her. Raphael as a younger brother to Chibuzor showed love to Gloria. You stood for her as your in-law. When we came back from the burial Raphael was still there for her. The death of Gloria and Chibuzor should unite the family. Their son, Akachukwu is there to show that you belong to one family. I want the two families to show love to each other, cherish each other. And I pray that God will see us through.”
Both aged 41, late Mr. Udeh died on 23rd December, 2023 while his wife, late Mrs. Udeh died on 11th January 2024. They were buried at Ntezi, Ishelu LGA, Ebonyi State on Friday, 5th January, 2024 and Wednesday 24th January 2024 respectively.