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Tributes As Hannah Thomopulos Is Buried
MUYIWA ADEYEMI AND GODWIN IJEDIOGOR
THE celebration of life of Mrs. Hannah Annie Thomopulos (Nee Omaghomi) climaxed yesterday as her remains were buried at exactly 4.10 p.m at Ikoyi Cemetery, Lagos.
Madam Thomopulos died on November 1, this year. She was aged 77 years.
The funeral service at the graveside was emotional. Yet, it was aptly described as "a celebration of life and times" of an accomplished woman who left behind a worthwhile legacy.
The sombre but colourful event was at a peak when a dust-to-dust ritual was performed by the eldest child of the deceased, Dr. Alex Thomopulos at 4.12 p.m. while the Chief Executive Officer of Guardian Press Ltd., Mrs. Maiden Ibru completed the ritual by pouring dust from Koko (native town of the deceased) on the casket.
This was later followed by the throwing of flowers to the ceramic tomb by the children of the deceased and well-wishers.
Those well-wishers included patriarch of the famous Ibru family Olorogun Michael Ibru, Chairman of Ikeja Hotels PLC, owners of Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Towers Mr. Goodie Ibru, Guardian Publisher Mr. Alex Ibru, wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba and his wife, Derinola.
For Mrs. Thomopulos, the final journey to eternal rest began yesterday at the Da'Alberto Estate, Palm Groove, Lagos residence of his son, Alex where her remains were laid in state.
Laid in a grey metal, 16 guage, Batsville casket, from Ebony Limited, the well decorated Thomopulos still retained her beauty even in death. Dressed in immaculate white, the body bore the semblance of one sleeping, except that it was lifeless.
The undertakers, MIC, led by its director, Mr. Tunji Okusanya provided light entertainment for visitors as they sang and danced in joyful transition of Sisi as the deceased was fondly called.
At 12.18 p.m. the black Cadillac Limousine with Ugba-One as its number plate bearing the casket led the motorcade to Our Saviour's Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, where the funeral service was held, through Western Avenue, Apongbon and Marina. The carnival-like procession arrived at the church premises almost an hour later, amidst dancing and celebration of life well lived by the deceased.
The dancing and celebration continued until 2 p.m. when the well-attended service began with the clergy receiving the body at the entrance of the church, followed by prayers.
With the body inside the church, solemn songs and hymns for the repose of her soul continued, with more guests and sympathisers arriving.
In the only lesson at the service taken from I
Thessalonians 4:13-18, Venerable Ranti Odubogun, who is the Secretary General of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, assured the congregation that during the rapture, all the faithful who had died in Christ would rise with Him on his second coming.
He read: "But we would not have to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another then with these words."
In his sermon, the Vicar of the Church, Venerable J. Akin Odejide, rather sympathize with them, congratulated her children, Dr. Alex Thomopulos, Mrs Maiden Ibru, Mrs Philomena Awosika and Mr. Moral Egbejule, for surviving their mother.
"We are strangers here on earth, heaven is our home," he stressed. Quoting copiously from Psalm 39:4, Odejide charged the children of the departed to continue to remember all the good virtues that their mother taught them and to strive to pass the same on to their own children.
He urged the congregation to always bear in mind that "we shall account for our stewardship here on earth at the end of our lives here, where we are mere strangers."
The 20-minute sermon reminded the congregation that "our lives here on earth are short, as we are just pilgrims on temporary assignment."
He asked women in the congregation whether they were pillars of strength like the deceased was to her children and husband, and whether they imbibed sound moral values and instilled the fear of God in their children as did Sisi in her life time. He said if they did, the world would be a better place to live in.
The priest then urged all present to strive towards making heaven, which he said should be the goal of man on earth.
The Very Rev. Sope Johnson (RTD) the immediate past provost of the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina also offered prayers for the soul of the departed and her family. He commended the body of Hannah Annie to the mercy of God.
Earlier, Dr Femi Akinkugbe gave a solo rendition of the song "I know that My Redeemer Liveth" composed in 1741 by George Frederick Handel.
The service ended around 3.15 p.m, followed by a funeral procession to her final resting place at Ikoyi Cemetery, Lagos.
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