F
or all mortals death will come
one day, a day we do not know
but the privilege we have is to
die in Christ with the hope
that we shall be with Him in paradise.
This was the submission of the Dean
of Agege Deanery, Very Rev. Fr. Au-
gustine Nnaemeka who is also the
Parish priest of St. Cyprian’s Catholic,
Oko-Oba, Agege, Lagos at the funeral
mass of the late Engr. Anthony Kpote
held on Saturday, January 25, 2020
at St. Rita’s Catholic Church, Obad-
eyi-Ijaiye Ojokoro in Ifako-Ijaiye Lo-
cal Council of Lagos State.
Fr. Nnaemeka, the chief celebrant
at the mass concelebrated with other
priests among them the Parish priest
of St. Rita’s Catholic Church, Obad-
eyi, Rev. Fr. Philip Uchendu, extolled
the virtues of the deceased whom he
described as one of the pillars of the
Church who helped to midwife the
abode of God from infancy to matu-
rity. He said the late Engr. Kpote who
is also a Knight of St. John Interna-
tional served the Church diligently
as former Parish Pastoral Council
Vice Chairman of the Church and
was committed to every assignment
he took upon himself to accomplish,
right from when he knew him at St.
Cyprian’s, noting that he exhibited
the strong character of a true Nigeri-
an even though he comes from Benin
Republic, Fr. Nnaemeka further re-
vealed.
Fr. Philip Uchendu spoke glowing-
ly of the departed, in his words; late
Engr. Anthony Kpote was not only
rich but was an outreach and chal-
lenged everyone to live exemplary
life just as Kpote did by touching
lives and putting smiles on the faces
of people in need. Priests who con-
celebrated the funeral mass included
Rev. Frs. Marcus Famosaya, Anthony
Okoro, Emmanuel Anyawu, Dia Olu
and Stephen Sobiyi. Knights of St.
John International and their Ladies,
friends and well wishers of the Kpote’s
family attended the funeral mass, just
as the Church condoles with his wife
and children.
Until his death at the age of 66 years,
after a brief illness, the late Anthony
Kpote was a member of CMO among
other societies, philanthropist and
devoted to the activities of St. Vincent
De Pores helping the less privileged.
He is survived by his wife, children
and grand children. His remains
will be buried at his home town,
Avrankou in Benin Republic on Sat-
urday, February 1, 2020 after a req-
uiem Mass at St. Michael’s Catholic
Church, Avrankou, Benin Republic.
