A Tribute To Mama: MariaNwabuogo Azoba, A Woman of Great Faith and Love Nne Okwukwe! Mama Obodo Oyibo! Ezinne! Grandma! Great Grandma! Mummy! Auntie! Omalicha! Maria nne Jesu! Maria nnem! Ezigbo Mmadu! and a whole lot of accolades and praise names capture the life and times of my dearest mother. Maria Nwabuogo Azoba was born to Mr. Julius Agwai of Umuyagbo village in Illah town, Nigeria on 4th May, 1929. She gave birth to four surviving children: Rev. Sister Lucia Benedict Ngozi Azoba, AGM, Mrs. Monica Osemeka, Mrs. Anthonia Nduka, and myself Francesca Ify AZOBA. Mama was a prayerful woman, and she always invited everyone around to pray with her. Our family routine was praying the rosary at the dawn of morning to begin our day and in the evening before retiring for the day. She was the matron of the then Zone 3 Block Rosary Crusade Center, Onitsha, which was stationed in our house. When approached to take the prestigious Onitsha Ado Odu title, her response was, "I would rather join the Christian Mothers in the Catholic Church who take the title of “Life Members”. Fortunately, she was selected for the conferment of that "Life Member" title at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Onitsha; Our mother was the happiest person in the group on that day. She expressed her deep joy and gratitude with inspirational Marian song. Her devotion to the Virgin Mary, mother of our Savior has no equal. She prayed her rosary so devotedly multiple times a day. Mama was fond of reciting the Catena prayer “Who is she that comment forth…” Her strong faith and shining example earned her a prestigious title and honor of the Mother of Faith (Nne Okwukwe) by the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha, Nigeria. Our mother always puts other people’s need before hers. At some point our family house in London was made available as a welcoming residence to a lot of young students who did not have their parents here in the UK. They spent the initial time with my parents with mummy cooking and taking care of their needs. (not surprisingly, many people have been calling and poping in to share their grief with me because mummy had taken the position of a mother in their lives). Mama lived an exemplary life. She hardly complained nor talked about people when someone brought a complaint to her or sought her advice. She had a listening ear and soothing words to impart to others. Her motto and famous words were: Yalika nwanne m, ya dibali Chukwu (Don’t worry about it, let God’s will be done) Mama was a lover of peace and a woman of goodwill. She was always reflective and took her time to get things done properly. Whenever any of her children came rushing to her impatiently, she would step aside and says gently, “Jilinu nwayo makana O jinwayo ada-emelu aru.” (She who is gentle does not get hurt or get into trouble). And that was what her life was all about. Towards the later part of her life, mama lived and worshipped at St. Marys and St. Michael's Catholic Church, East London. Then moving closer to me, she lived and worshipped in Canary Wharf at St. Edmunds Catholic Church, Millwall. Her maternal instinct made her to move once again to Essex to be closer to me and her grandchildren. Here she became involved in the parish community of Holy Cross Catholic Church. She was faithful in attending morning Mass and in leading the recitation of the rosary before Mass, and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament after the Mass. Her two grandchildren Ngozi and Anthony in South Ockenden will miss her greatly, especially now that they can no longer stop by her house after school to receive grandma's TLC. She has created a vacuum in our lives that cannot be filled. Few minutes before her death she poured blessings on us and also instructed me to make sure that my sisters and I live the way we have been living, confirming that she loves the peace, unity and solidarity among us, she further instructed that we should pray always and love one another. We thank God for the life of our dearest mother because she showed us how to live selflessly. Mama had great patience and deep kindness. She lovingly cared for our 95 years old father who suffers from Alzheimer and challenges of old age. She was our bedrock where we get solace often. Mama was ready and well prepared to enter into the eternal glory. She will be missed, but we are joyful because she kept the faith. She was unabashed in expressing her faith in Jesus and love for the Catholic Church. Good bye Mummy, Nne Okwukwe, Nne Ora…we shall meet again - Ifeyinwa AZOBA.