By Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe with press reports.
Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, and his amiable wife, Dame Edith, were among top dignitaries at the holy funeral mass in honour of the departed virtuous woman, and former Delta State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Chief Mrs Mary Iyasere, nee Akarumeh.
Okowa, who was visibly pained by the exit of his former commissioner and Special Adviser on Entrepreneurship Development, spoke passionately about the sum total of her pedigree, on Friday 22nd October, at St Gregory Catholic Church, Orhoakpo, saying she was one of the good voices of decency in the firmament of Delta Politics.
He noted that the deceased touched many lives through consistent giving and empowerment of youth and women in the state, adding that Mrs Iyasere was an excellent epitome of decency in family life and in the political arena.
Okowa who was deeply touched at the funeral mass by the sermon of Very Rev Fr Chris Ekabo, centered on her service to God and humanity, said Mrs Iyasere who died at 68 years was truly kind to all, and lived a life of faith by serving God diligently.
“The government and people of Delta state lost a mother and a sister. To those of us playing politics, we have lost one of the very good voices of decency in the person of Mrs Mary Iyasere.
“She was a woman of immense knowledge and good character.
“As a politician with highly revered principle, she was fiercely loyal and committed to the service of God. I think the grace that accompanied her helped us.
“You will never see her exhibit pride inspite of having no fewer than 250 employees in her various businesses. She actually gave more to people.
“I also know that she lived a life of faith. She was a woman of immense knowledge and good character who served God diligently.
“May we have the courage, as politicians, to emulate the good life that she lived,” the governor said.
Earlier in his homily, Fr. Ekabo described the deceased as a woman of great accomplishments, and urged Nigerians to imbibe the virtue of charity by impacting positively on the lives of the less-privileged in the society.
Ekabo observed that the late Iyasere dedicated her life to the service of God and humanity, adding that she was a member of St. Vincent De Paul in the Catholic church.
He disclosed that the philosophy of the deceased was “to give and not to take”, pointing out that she was a great entrepreneur who, encouraged people to acquire life-enhancing skills.
“Late Chief (Mrs) Iyasere was cool, calm, gentle, fashion-conscious, a strong woman of faith, a philanthropist, a political guru and a friend to both the rich and the poor,” the cleric said, adding that she was a great grassroots politician with integrity and incurable optimism,” Ekabo said.