The remains of the late Mrs Cecilia Manafa have been to rest at Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area.

The deceased is the mother of Mr. Marcel Manafa a member of Board of Directors of the Anambra Broadcasting Service and Senior Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on Broadcast Media.

Emmanuel Chigbata reports that the funeral of the Mrs Cecilia Manafa who was a devout Christian and strong member of the Catholic Church started with a burial mass officiated by the Catholic Bishop of Awgu Diocese, Most Reverend John Okoye at Saint Joseph’s Pro-Cathedral Aguleri.

The event attracted the wife of the Governor of Anambra State Dr. Ebelechukwu Obiano, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Primus Odili, the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, Head of Service, Mr Harry Uduh, Commissioners, other government functionaries, traditional rulers, Clergy and people from all walks of life.

In their messages, the Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Indigenous Artwork, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Ken Anierobi, the Managing Director, Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, Venerable Amaechi Okwuosa, and Managing Director, Anambra State Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Simion Onyemaechi remarked that the late Mrs Cecilia Manafa left positive legacies, describing her as a true humanitarian.

The Chairman of Anambra Sports Development Commission, Mr. Tony Oli, and an Industrialist Chief Chidi Okoye, described the deceased as an easy-going person, who impacted moral standards to her children and urged the family to emulate the good footsteps of their late mother.

The Enugwukwu community led by its traditional ruler Igwe Ralph Ekpeh was not left out in the scene as they convened to sympathize with their in-law.

On behalf of the Anambra Broadcasting Service, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Uche Nworah charged the family to work harmoniously and live out the good life their mother inculcated in them, while Chief Pat Nwume an in-law, said the departure of the late Cecilia was indeed a great loss.

Earlier In a homily, the Parish Priest of Saint Dominic Catholic Church Abatete, Reverend Father John Manafa extolled the deceased stating that she devoted her time in serving God and Humanity.

The children of the Deceased, Mr. Marcel Manafa, Chief Henry Manafa, Mrs Pat Ifeadi-Idigo, and Dr. Uju Manafa-Nwume described their late mother as industrious and virtuous, promising to keep her legacies.

The ceremony featured renditions by Saint Joseph’s Choir Aguleri, dance by different age grades and condolence visits by sympathizers.

Mrs Cecilia Manafa died at the age of eighty-five.