Mrs Victoria Chinyere Chukwueke died on the morning of Tuesday, January 10, 2023, while recuperating from a major hip surgery and protracted illness.
Biography
Late Mrs Victoria Chinyere Chukwueke was born to the family of Late Daniel and Cyrina Ebomuche of Eshimeshi kindred Umunahu Uratta in Owerri North Local Government Area (LGA) of IMO state in 1941. She was the fourth child and last born of the couple.
Fondly called "Vicky" by the older folks and "Mama Lagos" by some of her grand children.
She schooled upto elementary six at the old missionary school in Uratta and was known more for her sports dexterity. She was an outstanding handball player. Little wonder she got married to Late Mr Benson Ukachi Chukwueke of Umuelebi kindred in Umuayalu village Egbu in the same Owerri North LGA, who was a great football player and a flutist. He played for Marine FC in the late 50s and 60s.
Vicky was married and arrived egbu at a very tender age of about 19 years, with a stunning beauty that some older folks still talk about till today. Well gloomed for married life, she quickly moved with her husband to Bonny, where her husband worked as a marine engineer with Nigerian Port Authority.
Quickly, without difficulty, she conceived and delivered her first child in 1962, and before the civil war broke out in 1968, she had already bore four children. Her doggedness during the civil War to make sure her husband and children survived was so remarkable. As a mother with a suckling child, she would go miles to queue up for relief materials that was after she and her family fled from Bonny to Egbu and then became refugees at Uzoagba.
After the war, her husband was transfered to Lagos and in 1972 she had to join him there and they had three more children, making them seven in all.
Vicky and her husband were very open hearted and welcoming, and for the fact that they lived close to a popular Wilmer bus stop in Olodi Apapa, their house became a landmark for any of their kinsmen that passed by. They were always having to accommodate visitors and harbour people very so often. Her husband being a sailor, and whenever he returned from the sea with lot of foreign goods and fishes, they went inviting all their kinsmen and friends across lagos.... giving and sharing gifts were just a major part of their lifestyle.
Vicky was a very enterprising and energetic woman, she was always going into one business or another to support her husband financially and to help in the family upkeeps. She majorly runs a grocery "provision" shop and because she lived close to both Apapa Wharf and Tin can seaport, she often buy from importers at affordable prices enough for her to make good profits. She majorly sell foreign rice, canned food and ingredients. Whatever she could buy from the ports for business she did.
She also traveled distance markets to purchase and traded in variety of edible goods ranging from garri, beans, yams and plantains...
The nature of her husband's job which required him traveling abroad for trainings and because some of her children gained admission to secondary schools in Imo state, Vicky had to shuttle between living in Lagos and in the Village.
She started what later became a popular food canteen. She began selling cooked food first to boarding students at Egbu Comprehensive secondary school and later expounded the business and built a canteen in front of Sydney Opara's compound, which drew customers from far and near.
Vicky is perhaps one of the best cook you can find around and her cooking dexterity came to the fore, such that people contracted her to make special dishes for them when they had to host special guests.
Vicky had to return to Lagos to take care of her husband when he became sick.
Though, Vicky was of the Anglican faith, she had to join Deeper Life Bible Church where she made sure her husband also got born again. Vicky is what you could call a prayer warrior. She would lay prostrate on the floor and pray for hours, crying to God not only for her husband and children, but for issues going on in the society. She was a practising Christian and you would often find her reading her Bible and this was the way she trained her children, pointing them to Christ alone.
Vicky and her husband returned to the village in 1991 after her husband retired few years before. While in the village in 1993 she wedded with her husband at old age, in All saints cathedral Egbu Anglican diocese. She was a member of the Christian mother and guild. she belong to Saints Timothy family and had received several awards such as Ezinne for her contributions to Christianity and society.
Much more to say about her selflessness, generosity and love for people. Vicky was a preacher of peace and unity, and could just let go of anything that had become incessant conflict and division between her children or between her and other people. Every Christmas period and regularly during the year, she distributed clothings and food items to the rather less privilege who couldn't afford anything for Christmas.
Her house was the place of celebration, where Christmas and other festivities were celebrated sumptuously. You can never come to Vicky's house without being entertained with delicious food and drinks.
Her love for sports was something else. Her sitting room was almost a viewing center when major football matches were played. She would put on her large JVC television and people gathered to watch. (Her favorite player was Samson Siasia). When her son Chiedo Chukwueke played at FIFA U17 World Cup in 1995. It was celebration galore in her house after each match they won.
Later on, her house became where notable football stars visited from time to time and she would cook and entertained them as always. To these footballers she was known as "Mama Computa" referring to her son's nickname.
Vicky is one mother in-law any woman would love to have. she over pampered her daughter in-laws and grand children to a point of envy.
She was very close to most of her in-laws: Mr Uche Uduma from Ohofia; Her house was like a second home to late Mr Felix Chukwuocha and his children from Okwu-Ikeduru. And for Emmanuel Ugorji from Owerri, he was not just an in-law, but like her own son.
Vicky's life took another turn when her husband died in 1994 and in 2005 when she lost three of her daughters in a space of one year. The trauma may have been part of what caused her to develop hypertension and diabetes later on. She suffered these sickness with several complications for about 18 years. Due to consequent regular dizziness from the sickness, she fell and broke her hip bones.
On October 2022, she successfully had a surgery at Christiana hospital and was recuperating when she eventually passed on to glory on January 10, 2023.
She is survived by four children, two daughter in laws and twenty grand children. Her elder sisters Mama Rebecca, Mama Lydia and their children. In-laws and closed relations. May her Soul Rest in peace - Amen.
We mourn with hope knowing that she was born again and duly served the Lord Jesus Christ. We will surely meet her again in Heaven - in Jesus name, Amen.
Click link below for:
Funeral Arrangement and All You Need to Know About Mrs Victoria Chukwueke's Burial Ceremony
