My Grief

Late Lady Eudora Iwuanyanwu

By Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu
It is with very deep sense of sorrow that I, on behalf of my children and the entire Iwuanyanwu family, relations, the many close friends and associates of my family, announce the death of my dear wife, Lady Eudora Nnenna Ozinyereaku Iwuanyanwu.
Eudora and I married on 10th May, 1969, after 5 years of friendship and courtship. As a young man, I prayed for a wife who is a woman of virtue, a woman who loves and fears God, a woman who has compassion and love for humanity, a woman who would be a proud mother of my children, and above all, a woman who would love me for better or for worse. Eudora was God’s answer to my prayers.
For more than 40 years, Eudora and I marched through the path of life, breaking through so many barriers and obstacles on our way, trusting absolutely in Divine Providence of God. During the period, God blessed us abundantly, and we were able to utilize God’s gift to assist humanity in so many ways. Thousands of poor children were through Eudora and I given an opportunity to acquire education up to University level. We invested a lot in health and educational infrastructure, supported many communities in search of basic needs of life such as water, food, shelter and electricity. We played a major role in the building of Imo Airport. Eudora and I were both active in sports in our early days, so we equally invested substantially in the development of sports.
In politics, Eudora with me, joined many other patriots in championing the frontiers that restored democracy to Nigeria after many years of military dictatorship. Virtually all political meetings in the eastern part of Nigeria were held in my house so Eudora played hostess to all political leaders of today.
As a Patron of Cancer Society, she had recently expressed great concern over the large number of deaths due to prostate cancer and all other kinds of cancer. At a recent family meeting, she convinced me to build and donate to Nigeria Ten (10) Cancer Screening and Treatment Centres, one in each of the Six Geo-Political Zones, and one in each of the 5 South-Eastern States. This was scheduled to be announced on the 4th of September, 2011. She died a week before. Her propensity for services to God and humanity was inordinate.
Eudora supported me in championing the creation of the Anglican Diocese of Ikeduru. In Owerri Diocese where we reside, she encouraged me to make substantial contributions towards the building of the Cathedral of Transfiguration of Our Lord as well as to other churches. In fact, with her mutual consent, I established a foundation for Church development which annually gives subvention to Churches where the membership is financially weak in all parts of Nigeria.
In deed, by her death, I have lost a wife, a mother, a sister, a confidant, a very dependable ally, a spiritual counselor, and also a virtuous mother of my children and grand children.
Her funeral service has been scheduled for Friday 7th October, 2011 at St. Matthew’s Cathedral Atta at 11.00 a.m. This would be preceded by a service of songs in her honour at the Cathedral Transfiguration of Our Lord, Owerri.
It would be highly appreciated if you will support us by praying for the repose of the soul of my wife, Eudora, and for my family, and also attending her funeral to honour a woman who meant everything to me, and in many ways touched the lives of so many people. My heart is really grieved, and it is only God that can heal me. May her soul rest in peace.
*Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, MFR, Publisher, Industrialist, Business Mogul, Politician, Philanthropist, wrote this while announcing the death of his beloved wife, Lady Eudora Iwuanyanwu.