KENYANS’ MASSIVE TURNOUT AT COLLEAGUE’S FUNERAL

The late Sams' family lays a wreth on his grave during the burial that took place in Mary Immaculate cemetery in Lawrence, MA

Some of the late Sams' friends lay a wreth on his grave during the burial that took place in Mary Immaculate cemetery in Lawrence, MA

Lowell, MA
March 04/01/ 2008
By AjabuAfrica.com
Kenyans and other mourners turned out in large numbers on Wednesday, March 26, 2008, in the city of Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA, to bid farewell to one of their own. Mr. Samuel Githiabii, popularly known as “Sam Mrefu”, was laid at his final resting place at the Mary Immaculate Cemetery, just a few miles from where he used to live.

Sam Githiabii drowned in freezing cold waters of Sudbury River in Weston, Massachusetts, on his way to a baby shower in the company of two friends. The details of the horrific event and the circumstances surrounding it remain unclear to this day.

Dozens of friends, family members and mourners attended a wake the night before at a funeral home in Methuen, Massachusetts.

The funeral was preceded by a memorial service at the First United Methodist Church in North Andover. A long time friend, Mr. Patrick Kaba, who also hails from Thika, Sam’s hometown in Kenya, read the eulogy.

There was palpable grief as mourners filed into the church with sorrowful faces. A large number of mourners could not fit into the main church sanctuary and an overflow room was arranged and fitted with a wide screen monitor to project proceedings from the main sanctuary.

Several people at the service paid tribute to the late Sam and narrated memories of his short life on earth. Speaking in Kikuyu, a native African tongue, a family friend who had traveled all the way from Kenya for the burial, said Sam was always a humble man, even as he grew up as a young boy. Sam’s biological mother, Mary Wangui ,commended the Kenyan community in Boston for the love and generosity they had shown to the family since the tragedy struck a few weeks ago. Sam’s dad, Mr.Ephraim Gitonga , was at her side.

Mourners attend a memorial service at the First United Methodist Church in North Andover, MA

Mourners stand outside the First United Methodist Church in North Andover MA as they wait to proceed to the burial site

On another note, the late Sam’s pastor, Rev. Dr. Karimi Mumbui, praised Sam as a happy guy who always had a cheerful attitude. He then went on to lambaste a few Kenyans who had complained that Sam’s family had a hidden agenda when they cancelled plans to hold the funeral in Kenya.

“I have received several phone calls from people complaining why we had to raise so much money for Sam and then change burial plans,” Dr Karimi said. “Kenyan’s let me tell you this kind of thinking is trivial .I was there and I know the circumstances that forced the family to change the original plans of a burial in Kenya,” he added. He stated that big complications that arose were going to make it more costly to burry Sam here and leave very little if any for the young child left behind.

Rev. Paul Mwaniki of St. James African Community Church in Attleboro asked Christians to review the ways of their lives every day. “Know where you are coming from and where you are going to,” Rev Mwaniki implored.

Among those present at the funeral was the late Sam’s son, Jojo and Jojo's mother, Rihiannon Mazza.His his sister, Cecilia Njeri and brother, Francis Gitonga of Lynn, and several relatives and family friends attended and followed the procession grimly.

Mourners left in a long procession that caused a massive traffic gridlock in the city of Lawrence.

The st Mary's immaculate cemerety staff lower the cover to seal the final resting place of Sam Githiabii as mourners look on

Friends and family of the late Sam Githiabii pose for a final photo as the ceremony came to the end

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