TRIBUTE TO DR. MRS.KATE AHUCHOGU..
- Mrs. Cecilia Onuiri nee Ahuchogu.
I am so sorry that I cannot be with you today. I really would have loved to be there in person to pay my respect to Dr. Mrs. Kate Ahuchogu, the highly treasured wife of my late senior brother, Engr. Samuel Ahuchogu. In my absence, I have put together a few words to express how grateful I am that we lived in harmony in our family.
I got to know Kate when she moved into the husband's home in GRA Portharcourt. My brother DeSam as we fondly called him was working at the Refinery in Eleme Portharcourt. I got admission to study at St John's College Diobu. It was a co- educational institution for training Grade 11 Teachers. We had lost our Dad, so DeSam took over the responsibility of my sponsorship in my educational pursuits. He did that so well that I never lacked anything good and I also did not feel like I was fatherless. I was happily integrated into their family.
While in that College, every Saturday we were off, I spent the whole day at GRA PH in Kate’s home along with my bosom friend, Stella Eni, who later got married to Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, a one time Chairman of INEC. Kate never for one day grumbled. She took care of us. We came to rest after cutting grass in the school and the tedious class work. She single handedly did her cooking and fed us. We had time to sleep with the Air conditioner on. In the evening, we had all the provisions we needed and we were dropped off in the school by my brother. We looked forward to spending our day off every Saturday in Kate's home. How many house wives of our present day will do this for their sister inlaw who would not come alone visiting ? Because I was always warmly received in Kate's home, I spent most of my holidays in their home.
I saw Kate to be very meticulous; focused, energetic, determined, a tough disciplinarian of her children ( in love),hard working,God fearing and very hospitable. As a family woman, in medical practice and a Chief Consultant in the busy Massey Street hospital, Lagos where she was working, she still had time to give good parenting to the five brilliant and well behaved sons she had for my brother DeSam. None of the boys got lost to the world as many families have experienced with their children.
Kate loved her God. She served her God and worshipped Him with all her heart.
During the civil war, we were in PH when the Federal troops got close to PH. The Refinery was shut down. We hurriedly loaded the two cars available. Kate was still learning to drive. But the need to move out of Portharcourt was urgent. To my amazement, Kate volunteered to drive her car for the first time, outside PH.to Ntigha in Isiala Ngwa north Local govt. Area in Abia State. Kate arose in strength, she gave no room for weakness. She received divine empowerment to drive while my brother drove his. And we moved slowly because of her and got home safely.
We were at Ntigha when Aba was invaded and without any hesitation, we moved with my mum and my siblings, in fact the whole family to Amandugba in Orlu, Imo State where the Refinery was relocated and from there to Unubi in Anambra State. We all lived together with Kate's mum and three sisters Vero, Antonia , Agatha , all of them late. We never quarrelled all through the period. The war ended and we all went back home in peace.
Shall i end this tribute without mentioning the tradition Kate and my brother started ? Every Christmas day our family members gathered together for lunch and dinner. Kate had no cook. She never engaged the service of any caterer. She took her time early in the morning to roast the big turkey and prepared the sumptuous meal for the entire family. We had a jolly good time with family members every Christmas Day with Kate as the Chief hostess.
Today, the bell has tolled for Dr. Catherine Ahuchogu, so it will toll for us all. Let our consolation therefore be that she has gone to sleep and will wake up at the glorious morning at Jesus' second coming. As we say, "Good night Kate" I pray earnestly that we shall all be there to say, “Good morning Kate".