Friends and family of Sir Damian “BumBum” Anum gathered at St, Eugene’s Church in Los Angeles on Friday March 9, 2018 to bid farewell to Ezinne Evelyn Nwamara anum who went to be with the Lord In his Eulogy to his Mom, bumBum said that Ezinne Evelyn Nwamara Anum, Nee Duruibe, was born on October 16th 1932, into the
royal family of the late Chief Duruibe Ezeihekaibeya, and late Lolo Agnes Nlaa Duruibe Ezeihekaibeya Nee Agim of Ishiakwu Umuma Isiaku, Ide-Ato South Local Government Area, Imo State Nigeria, West Africa. She was one of three siblings and at least a dozen half-siblings as the family was polygamous.
My mother was a lovely woman, quiet, taciturn, but of a cheerful disposition. She was simply to me, an embodiment of humanity. She embodied all of the attributes of a perfect mom. She was caring thoughtful, hardworking, compassionate, loving and so much more. It was difficult to think of all of the words that described my mother as a person and how much she meant to me and my siblings. My mother was the pillar that held our family together since we lost our beloved father, Herbert Ogbenna a Anum, to the Nigeria/Biafra civil war, from 1967 to 1970 as a Biafran Soldier.
My mother was a homemaker her entire life, however, she dabbled into some petty trading every now and then. My parents had a lot in common, especially the desire to have a big family. They got married in 1949 and had my older sister, their first child, a year after getting married. They went on to have ten more children, six boys and five girls. In my estimation, my mother broke a record of giving birth to three sets of twin; two boys that included yours truly, a boy and a girl and two girls. This earned her the nickname “MAMA EJIMA” (Mother of Twins).
My mother worked hard to raise her family and was always there for us when we needed her. She was up early to help get us ready for school, make us dinner, and put us to bed. When I was younger, I wasn’t able to comprehend how much time and care she put into her family. Now that I have children of my own, I can truly appreciate the
amount of effort she put in raising us and this I will always be appreciative. My mother never had any formal education or training, but could sew well and she made a lot of the girls clothes. She understood the importance of education for her kids. One thing I remembered vividly was that of a situation after the Nigerian Civil War, whereby my mother had received an Employer Paid Gratuity on behalf of my deceased father who had worked for the Nigeria Railway Corporation. Instead of utilizing the money for her petty trading venture, she put it in the bank so that her children could utilize it for their secondary school education. I really appreciated my mother’s foresight because that decision she made paid off. The family eventually was successful in the education sector, and therefore in the long run, produced a retired Civil Service Director in Imo State, a retired Children’s Social Worker III of LAC/DCFS USA, an active NCE Teacher in Anambra State, a retired Production Manager in a Chemical Industry in Lagos Nigeria and a practicing Attorney in Imo State.
My mother distinguished herself in the community organizing activities within Umuma Isiaku town in Ide-Ato South LGA Imo State. In the early 70s, she lead the Women Group of Umueme Umuma Isiaku Village to produce an “Agbata Ekurunwa” record album which she was the lead singer.
She was an ardent participant in the church ministries and activities in St Andrew’s catholic Church Umuma Isiaku in particular and Orlu Diocese in general, hence, her conferment with the illustrious Catholic Church “EzinneTitle”
Most importantly, I am very grateful to the Almighty father, who is now hosting my mother in Heaven, for granting my family the singular opportunity of hosting my mother here in the USA from 2001 to 2006. One year into her stay in America, she suffered a stroke and recovered amicably. She did well in managing her medical condition for a while, being diabetic, but unfortunately succumbed to the cold-hands of death.
The church service was followed by a celebration of Life and wake keeping at the Unik event hall, Los Angeles
