Grace Onwumere

Ezinne Grace Onwumere, 80 years old, of Yakima, Washington State, entered God’s kingdom on July 19th, 2024. She was born March 5, 1944, in Ezira, Orumba South Local Government in Anambra State, Nigeria, to Umejiaku and Rhoda Emenike.

Ezinne Grace, the most loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother is survived by her sons, Dr. George Onwumere, Arthur Onwumere, and Emenike Onwumere; daughters, Mrs. Joyce Ihevueme, Mrs. Nkechi Ossai, Dr. Chiamaka Njoku; thirty-two (32) grandchildren and ten (10) great grandchildren.

Even though Ezinne Grace never finished her primary school education as a child initially, later she registered in Adult Education at Awada Primary School, Awada, Onitsha and completed her primary school education. Grace was smart, beautiful inside and out, kind, dedicated, industrious, personable, and nurturing, which attracted the attention of her late husband, Chief Christopher Onwumere. After marriage, Ezinne Grace settled into the next phase of her family life by having children while learning the trade of being a sewer. Grace loves to sing and sang a lot. She loves Christian songs and was a prayer warrior.

Feeling blessed and obligated to raise their family back home in Onitsha, Anambra State of Nigeria, they spent the next 30 years actively raising their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Ezinne Grace tirelessly, effortlessly, and faithfully supported her family by engaging in multiple careers – sewer and petit trading, especially during the Biafra-Nigeria civil war.

Ezinne Grace had the personality and natural charisma to make a lot of friends no matter the situation, and her laugh was infectious to everyone around her. She loves to dance and was an excellent dancer with many admirers. A woman of many factual stories that would draw out laughs, inspiring thoughts, and conclusions.

Ezinne Grace was devoted to God, honest, trustworthy, and truly a woman of integrity. She would always speak the truth and never budge under any circumstances, regardless of what anyone thinks. She was a president of many church and social groups, which she led with integrity, won a lot of accolades, and was highly admired. As a sewist, Ezinne Grace designed most of her, her children’s, grandchildren’s, great grandchildren’s, and other people’s clothes. She genuinely cared for people while focusing on providing for her family with the best life possible without worrying about herself.

Ezinne Grace was truly a great woman. Her exit from this world will be forever felt by her family, friends, and well-wishers that love her dearly. She was a selfless woman whose death left an unfillable gap in the hearts of her loved ones. She has this ability to engage, provide, support, sacrifice, forgive, and love people. She will be forever missed – Rest in Peace.

A wake keeping service/celebration of life will take place at 6:00 PM on October 26, 2024, at the:

Immigration & Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) Hall,

10321 NE Glisan Street,

Portland, Oregon 97220.

Final funeral service/celebration of life will take place at:

10:00 AM on Friday January 3 – 5, 2025,

At the family compound in Ezira,

Orumba South Local Government, Anambra State, Nigeria.