Mother of Two Laid to Rest, Well Wishers Raise $23,000

Pastors sorround family members singing a song as they stand by the casket containing the body of the late Florence Karanja during thefuneral service held at St.Mathews Episcopal Church,Worcester Mass, last week. H.Maina/Ajabu Images

By Harrison Maina
AjabuAfrica.com

WORCESTER, MA - October 21- It is when you come to the end of your own abilities that God takes over. These inspiring words were said by Rev. Dr. Karimi Mumbui during the burial ceremony of  the late Ms Florence Karanja, a Kenyan mother of two who passed away ending several years of an uphill battle with cancer.

She was laid to rest in Worcester on Tuesday, Oct 21, 2008.

Hundreds of Kenyans and friends turned up for the memorial service at the St. Mathews Church on South Bridge St.   before accompanying  the body of the late Ms Florence Karanja  to the final resting place at the Notre Dame Cemetery on Webster St. Worcester,  MA.

Earlier on Sunday, Oct 19th, the close knit Kenyan Community congregated at Liberty Church in down town Worcester and raised about $23,000 towards assisting the family of the late Ms. Karanja meet some the costs of the burial.

The fund rising was attended by Kenyans from variours parts of New England, led by the clearly caring and concerned large number of Worcester residents.

Another large number of well wishers came in from Lowell, MA, where the late Florence used to attend Church at the Kenyan Community Presbyterian Church (Ushindi).They were led by their pastor, Rev. Dr. Mumbui Karimi. Others drove in from Boston, New Hampshire and Connecticut.

The event was led by Rev. Ekira Mureithi of St. Johns Church in Worcester.

Rev.EkiraMureithi (right) of St.JohnsAnglican Church inWorcester and the rector of thechurch as they address mourners during a burial service in honor thelate Ms. Florence Karanja .H.Maina/Ajabu Images

Rev. Ekira thanked all the pastors of the Kenyan Community Churches who had decided to postpone all other activities on that Sunday afternoon so as to rally their flock to the fund raising venue.

"I feel so honored and supported by my fellow pastors who heeded our cry for help at this time of need", said Rev. Mureithi. "We have seen the hand of God here in the success we got today", she added.

Pastor Ben Njuru of Compassionate Fellowship Church in Worcester also thanked the pastors ofthe Kenyan communitychurchesfor heeding the call to unite more. "We are trying our best tounite our pastors as abody of christ",said pastor Ben.

Mr.Kibathi Gaturo and Mr. Ngare conducted the fund raising event and they thanked all the Kenyans who showed up to support a family in need.

"I have been in Worcester for a long time, and I can tell you we have always supported one another when it comes to such times of tragedy", said Mr.Kibathi.

During the memorial service, mourners were told of the resilience of the late Florence as she faced a bleak prognosis. "In 2004, when she was diagnosed with cancer, she had been given only six months to live by the doctors. But God gave her the strength and will power to live for four more years", said Mrs. Rahab Nganga while reading the eulogy.

Masters of ceremony, Mr. Kibathi Gaturo (with basket) and Mr.Ngari collect donations from well wishers during the very successful event inhonor of the late Florence karanja.A total of $23,000 was raised in about 3 hours. pic by Cliff Gichini/Ajabu Images

While reading from the book of 1 Kings: 11 during the sermon, Rev. Dr. Karimi Mumbui asked worshippers to learn to trust God when things seem too tough.

The burial ceremony ended when the body of the late Ms Karanja was finally lowered to its final resting place at the Notre Dame Cemetery while hundreds of friends and family members stood by watching solemnly.

Florence leaves behind her husband,  daughter,  son and  grandson, many brothers and sisters. Her  parents  had traveled from Kenya to pay their last respects to their departed daughter.

And as a tradition of gratitude in the community, an after burial lunch event and thanks giving prayers took place at a social hall on milbury street where a large number of Kenyans congregated and were treated to various Kenyan traditional delicacies specially prepared by are known Kenyan chef in Worcester, Mr. Ben Kariuki.
Edited by Peter gaitho for AjabuAfrica.com

More Pictures coming soon.

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