SISTER HELEN ONYIUKE, MSHR
PROFILE
“Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace”.

Sr. Helen Onyiuke departed this mortal life on Thursday morning, 22nd February, 2018, at the National Hospital, Abuja, after a brief illness. Before her death, she was a member of the Holy Rosary Sisters, Abuja Community, Southern Nigeria Region. The following is a brief profile of a woman whose life made a difference -

1. Royal Background: Helen was born in the royal Onyiuke Family to Chief Michael and Mrs Margaret (Beke) Onyiuke of Nimo, Njikoka Local Government, Anambra State, Nigeria, on 1st August, 1936. It is recalled that Chief Michael Onyiuke in his royal generosity had requested Bishop Joseph Shanahan to stay back in Nigeria and live in Nimo, rather than return to Ireland on his retirement. Little Helen therefore drank early from the waters of kindness which reality later characterized her whole life.

2. Humble Beginnings: Despite her foundations in a royal household that lived in a magnificent two-storey stone building in Nimo, Helen grew up in humble circumstances. She was glad to tell of how on the death of her father, the family tasted poverty in its stark reality. One of Helen’s brothers, “Brother Gab” was used by God to see the family through. He later became the Chief Justice of Nigeria [Senior Advocate of Nigeria]. Helen attended her Primary School in Nimo – St. Bonaventure and Holy Rosary Convent. Primary education over, she joined Loretto Teacher Training College, Adazi Nnukwu (1953-55) and graduated as an elementary school teacher. Helen remained a teacher all her life, formally and informally, in season and out of season!

3. Thirsting for Wisdom: The Teacher’s Certificate which Helen obtained was a good qualification, but not good enough to join the Holy Rosary Congregation in those days, for they demanded a thorough grounding in Latin and other basics before one could be accepted as a candidate for formation in the religious life. Helen therefore went back to school – to the Holy Rosary Secondary School, Ihioma, Orlu (1957 – 1962). With her were her other Aspirants including Cecilia Eze and Catherine Asomugha.

4. Blossoming in Faith and Love: The divine call to religious life brought Helen to Killeshandra in County Cavan, Ireland – the Motherhouse of the Holy Rosary Sisters. There with her companion Aspirants, she crossed the threshold of the “House on the Hill” and began her religious formation in faith and love. As could be expected from her humble and trustworthy nature,. Helen blossomed in Killeshandra. She took her turn in the kitchen, laundry, poultry farm. She picked potatoes, plucked berries for jam-making, assisted in making Altar bread, and did publicity work. It was a rounded training to add to her studies in Theology and other Sacred Sciences. Passing through Killeshandra prepared you very well for your missionary life. Helen passed the test and was accepted for First Profession of Vows which took place on 14th August 1965, in the Killeshandra Chapel presided over by His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Charles Heerey, the then Archbishop of Onitsha, on home leave in Ireland.

5. Maturing in Goodness and Faithfulness: To prepare even more for her mission, Helen was sent to England (1967 – 1969). She studied in Bridgwater, Somerset, where she obtained her requirements for admission to University, leading to her first degree in UNN – University of Nigeria (1970 – 1973). Before that, Helen worked in Biafra, attending to kwashiorkor children, some of whom had to be flown out to Sao Tome. She also assisted in Rehabilitation work in Nsukka after the war.

Another brief spell of studies took Helen to Belinter, Ireland, this time to prepare for Formation work in the congregation. She used her skills to maximum in her eleven years as Novice Directress in Nsukka (1974 – 1985). They were years of maturity in goodness, faithfulness and practical wisdom.

In 1986, Loyola University Chicago welcomed Helen to her Master’s Programme, followed by a one-year social work among African American youth in Chicago. The mellow fruitfulness of all these experiences continued to flow into other areas of Helen’s missionary involvement – Sierra Leone (1989 – 1993), South Africa= (1998 – 2003), Southern Nigeria – Retreat and Conference Centre, Nsukka (2003 – 2005) and finally the fund-raising in Abuja (2005 – 2018). Sister Helen was a vibrant and dedicated member of Holy Rosary Parish, Wuse, Abuja – her last port of call.

6. Surrendering totally to Eternal Love: Sister Helen has bowed her head in her final “FIAT” – “Let it be done to me according to thy word”. It is the total surrender built up over the past fifty-two or so years of her journey in the religious life. She had just celebrated the Golden Jubilee in 2015 of her First Vow. And now in answer to the silent sound of the trumpet, Helen quietly slips away and joyfully surrenders herself to the open arms of “this Tremendous Lover”.

Today, 27th March, 2018, countless people bid Sr. Helen Farewell, from North to South, from East to West – it is a chorus of gratitude to God who has made Helen a “special friend” to everyone. Her life certainly made a difference in our journey to Eternity. May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.

Sr. Catherine Asomugha, MSHR
Holy Rosary Convent
11 Magazine Avenue, G.R.A., Onitsha, Anambra State.

Holy Rosary Sisters’ Associates, Shanahan House, 19 Umuokoloagu Street, Independence Layout, Enugu. 15th March 2018.

The Regional Leader, Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary, Independence Layout, Enugu.

Dear Rev. Sister Stella Nwosu,

TRIBUTE TO LATE REV. SISTER HELEN ONYIUKE

The news of the death of Rev. Sister Helen Onyiuke truly devastated us, for it was not too long ago that she came to Enugu and paid visits to some of our members amongst other people. Moreover we cannot forget in a hurry her special reception of our associate members at Nimo when she lost her brother Chief Greg Onyiuke who was also one of the associate members.

Born into the noble and great Onyiuke family, Sister Helen lived an exemplary life of humility, kindness and prayer. Sister was highly principled but humane. She derived tremendous joy in ministering to people especially, the underprivileged, the poor, the sick, and the aged. In all the communities where she lived, she took good care of the young Rev. Sisters and also ensured that she showed great hospitality to their visitors.

Sister Helen mentored very many girls and women in Nigeria. In her secondary school days at the Holy Rosary College, Ihioma, in the present Imo State, where she was not only a pioneer student but also the senior prefect, she was outstanding for her obedience to the school authorities. She in addition, observed meticulously all rules and regulations of the school. Above all, she exercised great influence on her fellow students through her prayer life, humility and display of exquisite manners in all her actions and conduct.

In adult life, Sister Helen carried out her missionary work diligently and gracefully to the admiration of all those who came her way. At all times at Nsukka or Abuja, her integrity and compassion stood her out not just among those she lived and worked with, but also amongst her relations and the society at large.

We have no doubts in our minds that the thousands of students Sister Helen has brought up will form a formidable legacy for younger generations to benefit from, while her teachings of the word of God will forever be remembered by many homes.

On our part, we the Associates will always cherish her as one of the founders of the Holy Rosary Sisters’ Associates.

Please accept our deep and sincere condolences to you and the entire congregation of the Holy Rosary Sisters on the demise of our dear Sister Helen, and continue to count on our masses and prayers for the repose of her soul.

Yours sincerely in Christ Jesus,

Chief Chris. C. Onwuzo

President, Holy Rosary Sisters’ Associates, Enugu.

On behalf of all the members.

One of the pictures taken during Sr Helen's Golden Year in Ireland.