Today will be remembered as a day of both sorrow and grace at Egede, as the St. Bernard Seminary Hostel family, Nchatancha Nike, joined their Rector, Rev. Fr. Liberatus Isife, to bid a final farewell to his beloved sister-in-law, Mrs. Esther Ndidiamaka Isife.

The funeral began with a brief but moving lying-in-state at her husband’s residence, where quiet tears mingled with prayers of gratitude for a life so beautifully lived. It was followed by another viewing at the church, which overflowed with family members, priests, religious, seminarians, and lay faithful — all gathered to celebrate a woman whose short life left deep and radiant footprints on many hearts.

The Solemn Funeral Mass was reverently presided over by the Auxiliary Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Ernest A. Obodo. His presence, along with that of numerous clergy and the seminary community, gave the event a sacred weight that seemed to bridge heaven and earth.

In his homily titled “The Departure of a Saint,” His Lordship spoke with tenderness and conviction about the grace-filled life of Mrs. Esther. He recounted his first encounter with her — a moment that captured her spirit of generosity and service. “I met her on a day when the seminary bus broke down,” he recalled. “Without hesitation, she ran to call the mechanic and even paid for the repairs from her own purse.”

He went on to describe her as “a woman who turned everything she touched into value — one who worked tirelessly and only seemed to rest when others could no longer keep up.” Her zeal, he said, was contagious; her kindness, magnetic; and her love so pure that even animals seemed drawn to her gentle spirit. She was, in his words, “a quiet saint in ordinary garments.”

The Bishop urged all present to learn from her example — to live lives that radiate selfless love, integrity, and unshakable faith. He reminded everyone that true greatness is not measured by years or wealth but by the depth of good we plant in others.

At the conclusion of the Mass, Rev. Fr. Liberatus Isife, her grieving brother-in-law and Rector of St. Bernard Seminary, expressed heartfelt gratitude to all who came to mourn, pray, and show solidarity. In his closing remarks, he invited everyone to anchor their faith and hope in God, especially when faced with questions that defy human understanding.

He reflected sorrowfully yet faithfully on the mystery of her early passing — a woman married for only eight months and yet called to eternal rest before motherhood could grace her home. “We may not understand why,” he said, “but we believe that God’s love never fails, even when it hurts most.”

At the graveside, the seminary choir filled the air with hymns of farewell, their voices rising like incense to heaven. The crowd stood in solemn silence, broken only by the gentle rustle of wind and muffled sobs. As the coffin was lowered into the earth, there was a collective stillness — a sacred hush that seemed to honor both her departure and her legacy of goodness The final blessing was pronounced by the Rector, after which the rest of the programme continued in a serene and reflective tone

May the gentle soul of Mrs. Esther Ndidiamaka Isife, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in perfect peace. Amen.