Nze, Sir. Innocent Ejikeme Ihemedu, KSM

Nze, Sir Innocent Ejikeme Ihemedu KSM, 94, of Ejemekwuru, Imo State, Nigeria, passed away peacefully after a brief illness on April 2, 2022, at Federal Medical Center Owerri, Nigeria. Sir Ihemedu is survived by his beloved wife Cecilia of 68 years and five of his eight children: Paschal, Rose, Priscilla, Chinedu, and Father Emmanuel Ihemedu of Torrington, CT; his half-siblings Gabriel, Patricia, and Jacinta; his cousin Maximian and a host of nephews and nieces. He is predeceased by his dear daughters Angela and Mary, his adorable son Okechukwu, his beloved brothers Florentus and Sabastian, and his sisters Ihuaru, Jane, and Ogomma. He was also the grandfather to 19 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

Sir Ihemedu was born on December 28, 1927, in Ejemekwuru, Imo State, Nigeria, the son of the late Ihemedu and Nwaokwaraojiaku Nwosu Durugbaku. After graduating from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, Sir Ihemedu worked for both the Imo State and Federal Civil Service for 41 years as an elementary and secondary school geography teacher and later as headmaster. He later became a tutor at the Bishop Lasbrey Teachers’ Training College and a principal of Ejemekwuru and Akabo Secondary School until his retirement in 1984. Post-retirement, Sir Ihemedu was appointed Chairman (chief judge) of Oguta II Customary Court by the Imo state government, where he served faithfully for six years. He ensured an unusual characteristic of his era: That all cases were adjudicated fairly, without a kobo of graft.

Sir Ihemedu lived his life for the Lord and, like Abraham, for his neighbors. To his friends, he was affectionately called ‘Saint Peter’, aptly nicknamed during his earlier years when he opened the church each morning for the 6 am Mass. His love for the Lord was evident to anyone who knew him. He was a fourth-degree member of The Knights of Saint Mulumba (KSM) Nigeria, an order founded on the principle of Catholic Action and modeled after the sacred Order of Catholic Knighthood. Sir Ihemedu lived courageously and taught those he loved to live courageously too.

A memorial Mass to celebrate the life of Nze Sir Innocent Ejikeme Ihemedu KSM will be offered at 6 pm on Friday, May 20, 2022, at St. Peter’s Church (St. John Paul the Great Parish) located at 99 East Main Street, Torrington Connecticut. A reception will follow at St. John Paul the Great Academy (gymnasium) located at 360 Prospect Street.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to: Fr. Emmanuel Ihemedu, 107 East Main Street, Torrington, CT 06790.