A SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF LATE MRS. CATHERINE IJEOMA ENYERIBE (NEE IWUAGWU)
June 25, 2021
BIRTH/PARENTAGE:
Mrs. Catherine Ijeoma Enyeribe (Nee Iwuagwu) was born on the 10th of August, 1970 into the Catholic family of Ezinna Herbert Onuigbo Iwuagwu and Ezinne Paulina A Iwuagwu of Umuderim in Ihitte/Uboma L.G.A, Imo State, Nigeria. Kate was the third child and the first daughter of her parents.
EDUCATION:
Cathy, as she was fondly called, started her formal education at Community Primary School Umuderim, in 1976 from where she obtained her first school leaving certificate in 1982. She did her secondary school education from 1982 to 1988at Amakohia Girls Secondary School in Ihitte/Uboma L.G.A.Here she distinguished herself as a good athlete in 100 meters race. From here she proceeded to Michael Okpara College of Agriculture Uwuagwo (Owerri) for her OND and HND in Crop Science between 1988 and 1995. In between these two degrees she did a one year mandatory industrial attachment at Goulborne Investment Ltd. Aba an Agro-allied industry. At the completion of her Tertiary Education Kate did her National Youth Service (NYSC) at the newly created Udung Uko L.G.A (Oron) in Akwa Ibom State in 1997 where her services were highly commended.
CHRISTIAN LIFE:
Being from a good Christian family Kate was very early in life initiated into the Catholic Church through her infant Baptism in 1970 at Mater Dolorosa Parish Ihitte, in Ihitte/Uboma L.G.A Imo State, she also received the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist (First Holy Communion) and Confirmation in 1980and 1988 respectively in the same Parish. Mrs. Catherine Ijeoma Enyeribe remained faithful to the Catholic tradition until death. Before Marriage Katewas a staunch member of St. Peters Catholic Church Umuderium where she belonged to the Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria (CYON), the Mary League Girls Association and the Choir. At Lagos she worshipped at St. Agnes Maryland, between 1995-2002 and later Sacred Heart Parish Ojota (2003-2008) where she was a member of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCRN), and Young Christian Workers (YCW). While in Port Harcourt she belonged to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church Onyigbo and later Our Lady of Fatima Parish Umuebele in Eche. In both parishes Kate was a member of the C.W.O, the CCRN and Precious Blood Devotion. Kate was a firm believer in God’s goodness and love and during the period of her ill-health she constantly requested for prayers from her relatives and friends.
MARRITAL LIFE:
In 2008 Catherine Ijeoma Iwuagwu got married to Mr. Ethelbert Enyeribe Ikekwem. This marriage which was solemnized at the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA) Chaplaincy Port Harcourt, River State on the 16th of August, 2008 was blessed with a daughter Chioma.
CARRIER AND SOCIAL LIFE:
After the completion of her NYSC Kate joined her eldest brother Mr. Theodore Iwuagwu in Lagos in 1998 where she did a basic computer programming at a computer center in Maryland. Later she started her own business of selling clothing materials and children wears at Tejuosho market, Yaba Lagos. Her business trip took her to Dubai and Ghana. After marriage Kate relocated her business to Port Harcourt. After some years as she could no longer travel long distances on account of family concern she changed business line to Agro allied and industrial chemical business (her family business in Lagos) with her shop at #45 Aba/Port Harcourt Express Way Oyingbo Port Harcourt.
With regard to her social life, Kate was a good mixer; very friendly and sympathetic always ready to release a smile. Her being frank and outspoken often made her to be misunderstood. She was very caring and regularly checked on her relations and friends through calls and visits when possible.
KATE’S SICKNESS AND LAST DAYS:
Kate’s health challenge started in 2010 when she noticed a lump on her breast while still breastfeeding her baby. She was told at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) to come for its removal after breastfeeding. The removal was done in 2011 and declared not cancerous. There was a re-growth of the lump in 2015 and after surgery cancer was diagnosed. Since then she had had surgeries and treatments at UPTH, Bright White Memorial Hospital Port Harcourt, LUTH & EKO Hospitals in Lagos with series of Chemotherapies and Radiotherapies. Seeing her deteriorating condition in December 2016, her family in consultation with her husband Ethel decided to take her to Lagos to be treated by a renowned Oncologist at ……
In January, 2017 she felt better and was apparently recuperating but her condition relapsed after the first week of February, 2017 with the bones and other major organs under pressure and with her being in continuous pains with sleepiness days and nights. In her travails she continued to call for prayers which were responded to by her relations friends and well wishers but the will of the Almighty God Prevailed and she was saved from her pains when by 11:25pm on Monday the 20th of February Kate passed on to meet her Creator terminating her earthly pilgrimage. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and cherished her.
She is survived by:
Mr. Ethelbert Ikekwem (Husband)
Miss Chioma Vivian Enyeribe (Daughter)
Ezinna Herbert O. Iwuagwu (Father)
Ezinne Paulina A. Iwuagwu (Mother)
Mr. Theodore Iwuagwu (Brother)
Rev. Fr. (Dr) Emmanuel K. Iwuagwu (Brother)
Mrs. Chinyere Jacinta Anyanwu (Sister)
Mr. Chimaobi Boniface Iwuagwu (Brother)
Mr. Chizoba Simon Iwuagwu (Brother)
Mrs. Chioma Bridget Iheanacho (Sister)
Mr. Udochukwu Joseph Iwuagwu (Brother)
Nze Ezinna Brendan Enyeribe Ikekwem (Father-in-law)
Lolo Ezinne Christiana Onyegecha Enyeribe (Mother-in-law)
And a host of other relations: Cousins, Nephews, Nieces, Brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Mrs. Catherine Ijeoma Enyeribe (Nee Iwuagwu) was born on the 10th of August, 1970 into the Catholic family of Ezinna Herbert Onuigbo Iwuagwu and Ezinne Paulina A Iwuagwu of Umuderim in Ihitte/Uboma L.G.A, Imo State, Nigeria. Kate was the third child and the first daughter of her parents.
EDUCATION:
Cathy, as she was fondly called, started her formal education at Community Primary School Umuderim, in 1976 from where she obtained her first school leaving certificate in 1982. She did her secondary school education from 1982 to 1988at Amakohia Girls Secondary School in Ihitte/Uboma L.G.A.Here she distinguished herself as a good athlete in 100 meters race. From here she proceeded to Michael Okpara College of Agriculture Uwuagwo (Owerri) for her OND and HND in Crop Science between 1988 and 1995. In between these two degrees she did a one year mandatory industrial attachment at Goulborne Investment Ltd. Aba an Agro-allied industry. At the completion of her Tertiary Education Kate did her National Youth Service (NYSC) at the newly created Udung Uko L.G.A (Oron) in Akwa Ibom State in 1997 where her services were highly commended.
CHRISTIAN LIFE:
Being from a good Christian family Kate was very early in life initiated into the Catholic Church through her infant Baptism in 1970 at Mater Dolorosa Parish Ihitte, in Ihitte/Uboma L.G.A Imo State, she also received the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist (First Holy Communion) and Confirmation in 1980and 1988 respectively in the same Parish. Mrs. Catherine Ijeoma Enyeribe remained faithful to the Catholic tradition until death. Before Marriage Katewas a staunch member of St. Peters Catholic Church Umuderium where she belonged to the Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria (CYON), the Mary League Girls Association and the Choir. At Lagos she worshipped at St. Agnes Maryland, between 1995-2002 and later Sacred Heart Parish Ojota (2003-2008) where she was a member of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCRN), and Young Christian Workers (YCW). While in Port Harcourt she belonged to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church Onyigbo and later Our Lady of Fatima Parish Umuebele in Eche. In both parishes Kate was a member of the C.W.O, the CCRN and Precious Blood Devotion. Kate was a firm believer in God’s goodness and love and during the period of her ill-health she constantly requested for prayers from her relatives and friends.
MARRITAL LIFE:
In 2008 Catherine Ijeoma Iwuagwu got married to Mr. Ethelbert Enyeribe Ikekwem. This marriage which was solemnized at the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA) Chaplaincy Port Harcourt, River State on the 16th of August, 2008 was blessed with a daughter Chioma.
CARRIER AND SOCIAL LIFE:
After the completion of her NYSC Kate joined her eldest brother Mr. Theodore Iwuagwu in Lagos in 1998 where she did a basic computer programming at a computer center in Maryland. Later she started her own business of selling clothing materials and children wears at Tejuosho market, Yaba Lagos. Her business trip took her to Dubai and Ghana. After marriage Kate relocated her business to Port Harcourt. After some years as she could no longer travel long distances on account of family concern she changed business line to Agro allied and industrial chemical business (her family business in Lagos) with her shop at #45 Aba/Port Harcourt Express Way Oyingbo Port Harcourt.
With regard to her social life, Kate was a good mixer; very friendly and sympathetic always ready to release a smile. Her being frank and outspoken often made her to be misunderstood. She was very caring and regularly checked on her relations and friends through calls and visits when possible.
KATE’S SICKNESS AND LAST DAYS:
Kate’s health challenge started in 2010 when she noticed a lump on her breast while still breastfeeding her baby. She was told at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) to come for its removal after breastfeeding. The removal was done in 2011 and declared not cancerous. There was a re-growth of the lump in 2015 and after surgery cancer was diagnosed. Since then she had had surgeries and treatments at UPTH, Bright White Memorial Hospital Port Harcourt, LUTH & EKO Hospitals in Lagos with series of Chemotherapies and Radiotherapies. Seeing her deteriorating condition in December 2016, her family in consultation with her husband Ethel decided to take her to Lagos to be treated by a renowned Oncologist at ……
In January, 2017 she felt better and was apparently recuperating but her condition relapsed after the first week of February, 2017 with the bones and other major organs under pressure and with her being in continuous pains with sleepiness days and nights. In her travails she continued to call for prayers which were responded to by her relations friends and well wishers but the will of the Almighty God Prevailed and she was saved from her pains when by 11:25pm on Monday the 20th of February Kate passed on to meet her Creator terminating her earthly pilgrimage. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and cherished her.
She is survived by:
Mr. Ethelbert Ikekwem (Husband)
Miss Chioma Vivian Enyeribe (Daughter)
Ezinna Herbert O. Iwuagwu (Father)
Ezinne Paulina A. Iwuagwu (Mother)
Mr. Theodore Iwuagwu (Brother)
Rev. Fr. (Dr) Emmanuel K. Iwuagwu (Brother)
Mrs. Chinyere Jacinta Anyanwu (Sister)
Mr. Chimaobi Boniface Iwuagwu (Brother)
Mr. Chizoba Simon Iwuagwu (Brother)
Mrs. Chioma Bridget Iheanacho (Sister)
Mr. Udochukwu Joseph Iwuagwu (Brother)
Nze Ezinna Brendan Enyeribe Ikekwem (Father-in-law)
Lolo Ezinne Christiana Onyegecha Enyeribe (Mother-in-law)
And a host of other relations: Cousins, Nephews, Nieces, Brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.