It is the Lord who gives life and death, the Scripture says. The Daughters of the Holy Spirit -DHS-, Vice-Province of Nigeria give thanks to God for a life well spent of a rare gem, Rev. Sr. Roseline Odunze DHS whom God called Home on the 1 of February, 2023 and whose funeral ceremony took place on the 18 February 2023 at St Lawrence Catholic Church, Imo Ilesa. Osun State.
Father Fr. John Makinde during the Wake said “whatever God does is always good and perfect even if it’s not good to us human beings”. Of his meeting with her, he said Sister Roseline had prepared herself and was ready for the call to heaven, adding that she loved God and was always happy to receive communion.
Rev. Fr Erasto Shayo M.Afr, in his homily on the funeral day, noted that Sr. Roseline was always full of life, she loved life and lived life with passion. He described her as a goal getter, courageous, firm and hardworking woman. She knew where to ask for help, cared for her spiritual life, and was committed to her religious vocation in obedience.
Similarly, the main celebrant, Bishop John Oyejola of the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo, commiserated with the family of Sister Roseline and the Daughters of the Holy Spirit. He encouraged them to take her example in good faith, even if it is very difficult, certain that at some point, each of us will return to our Creator… God knew the right moment to call Sr Roseline Home: looking at her life well lived, she was already smiling in heaven! He urged all present to be always ready and to long to see Christ every day. “If we want or don’t want to hear about death, death will come, so it is good to talk about it and prepare for it with our good deeds”.
In her tribute, one of her classmates, Sr. Anthonia Falope, DHS, reiterating the quality of life of Sr Roseline Odunze recapped that she was a daughter of the Holy Spirit to the core, a woman of apostolic and mission daring, a true visionary of our time, quick to see into the future, always ready for action, an indefatigable daughter of Marie Balavenne (foundress of DHS), who gave of herself without counting the cost to the very end.
In thanking God and all present, Sr. Anthonia Ayeni DHS, the Vice Provincial, acknowledged in particular the presence of Bishop John Oyejola, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo, for his affection, support and presence with the Sisters, thanking also the Vicar General of the Diocese, Rt. Michael Okodua, the Vicar of Religious, Fr. Pierre Chanel Ulama M.Afr, the priests of the Dioceses of Osogbo, Oyo, Abeokuta, Ibadan and the Archdiocese. She expressed gratitude to the various religious congregations present: the Sisters of St Michael the Archangel (SSMA), the Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (OSF), the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ (PHJC), the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM), the Trinitarian Sisters, the DDBP Sisters. She appreciated the presence and unfailing support of the Associates of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, the parishioners of St Lawrence’s Catholic Church, Imo, Ilesa and the parish priest, Reverend Father Stephen Okurumeh, for his constant presence and support to the congregation.
