“Death is the veil which those who live call life: They sleep, and it is lifted.” Percy Bysshe Shelley
Dana Air Tragedy: RIP Ijeoma Onyiuke – 153 Passengers & Crew…
Dana Air Tragedy: RIP Ijeoma Onyiuke – 153 Passengers & Crew… Photo Credit: Emmanuel Arewa/AFP/Getty Images
On Sunday, June 3rd, at 3.45pm, a Dana Air flight crashed into a church, Mountain of Fire, and a two-storey building in Lagos, Nigeria, killing all 146 passengers and 7 crew members aboard. My dearest sister-in-law’s sister, Ijeoma Terri Onyiuke, was on board that ill-fated flight and our hearts are broken as we shed tears for a vibrant life cut short, and for the lives of many others who perished in that tragic event. Flight 9J-992, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 was on route from Nigeria‘s capital, Abuja, to Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos when, as reported, it developed engine problems. There were also casualties on the ground and those numbers still need to be fully verified. President Goodluck Jonathan declared a 3 day mourning period in Nigeria, and the gruesome task of identifying and claiming the bodies of loved ones will soon begin. For now, Dana Air’s license has been suspended and an investigation is under way, but our pain, grief, and tears will linger for years to come…
“The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.” Harriet Beecher Stowe
Dana Air Tragedy: RIP Ijeoma Onyiuke – 153 Passengers & Crew… Dearest Ijeoma Rest In Peace..
Introit for the Requiem Mass and Kyrie
Introit for the Requiem Mass and Kyrie
Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine, Grant them eternal rest, O Lord,
et lux perpetua luceat eis. and let perpetual light shine upon them.
Te decet hymnus Deus, in Sion, A hymn becomes you, O God, in Zion,
et tibi reddetur votum in Ierusalem. and to you shall a vow be repaid in Jerusalem.
Exaudi orationem meam; Hear my prayer;
ad te omnis caro veniet. to you shall all flesh come.
Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine, Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
et lux perpetua luceat eis. and let perpetual light shine upon them.
Kyrie eleison
Kyrie eleison; Lord have mercy;
Christe eleison; Christ have mercy;
Kyrie eleison Lord have mercy.
Ijeoma was a brilliant and talented marketing executive with over 15 years experience in the field. Up until her death, she was Head of Marketing at Hewlett Packard West Africa. Ijeoma graduated from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, with a BA (Hons), in English Language & Literature, and from Cranfield University, UK, with an MSc, in Marketing Management. She was returning from a weekend event in Abuja, and the shocking news was confirmed when the passenger list/manifest was released. On a personal level, she was poised, very stylish, a skillful conversationalist, lots of fun, and a good soul. She was a woman of faith and loved God. Ijeoma was also a voracious reader who loved romance novels, Movies; especially Nollywood, Polo shirts (she had them in every color); platform shoes and cocktail rings. Above all, Ijeoma was a loving sister and a dear friend to many. I still can’t fathom that she is gone… She will be terribly missed by all of us. On his visit to the accident site, Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan wept. He promised to launch an investigation to ensure that it won’t happen again. “We will make sure this will not repeat itself in this country…“ We call on the government to conduct a thorough and rigorous investigation. My condolences to all affected by this tragic event. More below!
