The quiet town of Idumuje-Unor in Delta State was filled with solemn reverence and heartfelt celebration over the weekend, as the Chiazor family of Idumuje-Unor and the Nwoko family of Idumuje-Ugboko laid to rest their beloved matriarch, Princess Mrs. Catherine Okwuobi Chiazor (née Nwoko).
Princess Catherine Chiazor, who passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Arizona, United States, at the age of 92, was a symbol of grace, strength, and enduring legacy.
She was the daughter of the late HRM Obi Nkeze Nwoko II, the revered traditional ruler of Idumuje-Ugboko, and the wife of the late Chief Anthony Chiazor, a respected patriarch in his own right.
The funeral rites drew an impressive turnout of mourners, with family, friends, and dignitaries converging from across Nigeria and the diaspora to pay their last respects.
Among them was Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District and a nephew to the deceased, who described her as a woman of remarkable dignity and deep familial devotion.
A solemn funeral Mass was held at Saint Matthew Catholic Church, Idumuje-Unor, in keeping with her devout Catholic faith, after which she was laid to rest in her ancestral home in Idumuje-Ugboko.
In his emotional tribute, her eldest son, Mr. Greg Sunny Chiazor, a prominent business magnate, described his mother as “a devout Catholic who lived a Christ-like life and instilled in us the values of discipline, compassion, and reverence for motherhood.”
He added that her wisdom and influence would remain etched in their hearts forever.
Senator Nwoko echoed these sentiments, stating, “She was not just my mother’s sister but a matriarch in her own right, resolute, composed, and profoundly nurturing.
She embodied the quiet resilience and grace that defined a generation of women who held families and communities together without seeking recognition.”
The late Princess Catherine Chiazor was widely revered for her kindness, empathy, and deep sense of duty to family and community.
She is survived by five children, Mr. Greg Sunny Chiazor, Mrs. Pat Okwumabua, Chief (Mrs.) Obiageli Inuwa, Mrs. Nkechi Stella Adesina, and Mr. Francis Onweazu Chiazor, as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family.
Her passing marks the end of an era, but her legacy continues to resonate through the many lives she touched with grace and humility.
