“A Life So Painful” – Rita Edochie Mourns Jnr Pope’s Father, Reflects on Tragic Losses in Emotional Tribute

After another devastating loss for the family in less than a year, veteran Nollywood actress Rita Edochie has expressed her profound sadness at the death of her late colleague Jnr. Pope Odonwodo’s father.

Edochie bemoaned the unfortunate reversal of fate in a poignant homage posted on social media, pointing out that the elder Odonwodo had to bear the grief of losing his son before his own death, whereas Jnr Pope was supposed to be buried in old age.

Edochie highlighted the late patriarch’s resilience in the face of overwhelming loss and commended him for leading a long and happy life.

She emphasised the emotional toll that the family’s double loss has taken on those left behind and acknowledged the deep anguish of that loss.

Jennifer Odonwodo, the widow of Jnr. Pope, first announced the elder Odonwodo’s passing.

She said that he died a month after she and her kids visited him in Enugu State.

According to Jennifer’s eulogy, her father-in-law was a loving family guy who had made sacrifices and given his respects.

In a moving message shared via her Instagram page, Rita Edochie expressed not only her condolences but also her profound sorrow at the cruel twist of fate that saw the elderly father bury his son—Jnr Pope—before passing away himself.

See her messages below:

“LOOSING A CHILD IS ENTIRELY HEARTBREAKING ESPECIALLY WHEN A PARENT IS ADVANCED IN AGE .
JUNIOR POPE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE ONE BURYING THIS GREAT FATHER OF HIS AND NOT THE OTHER WAY ROUND IT IS WELL .

DEATH IS CRAZY , DEATH IS UNINFORMED , DEATH OPERATES IN WAYS THAT ARE UNIMAGINABLE CHAIIIIIIIIIII I KNOW THIS KIND OF DEATH IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE CONSIDERED TOO HURTFUL BECAUSE PAPA EMBRACED HIS OLD AGE BUT THE REASON I FEEL VERY PAINNED PENNING THIS DOWN IS BECAUSE JP WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN PRESENT SEEING HIS FATHER EMBARK ON HIS JOURNEY TO MEET HIS MAKER AND ALSO PLAN HIS FUNERAL AFTERWARDS , TOO BAD IT’S NOT HAPPENING THAT WAY .

READING WHAT JAY , JUNIOR POPE’S WIFE POSTED THIS EVENING CAUSED ME TO SHED TEARS THAT I LACK WORDS TO EXPLAIN
ONLY GOD UNDERSTANDS HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS NEWS .

WELL , I APPRECIATE GOD FOR A LIFE WELL SPENT , SEEING THIS VIDEO ALREADY , I DON’T NEED A PROPHET TO LET ME KNOW THAT PAPA WAS FULFILLED , HE HAS RUN HIS RACE AND HAS CLIMAXED PEACEFULLY .
THANK YOU FOR EVEN ENDURING TILL THIS TIME , MOST PERSONS DIDN’T EVEN KNOW YOU COULD KEEP UP , TILL THIS VERY MOMENT AS PER THE DEVASTATING EVENT OF APRIL 10TH 2024 .
YOU WERE A STRONG MAN PAPA .
YOUR SOUL IS BLESSED

MAY GOD COMFORT THE GREAT FAMILY YOU HAVE LEFT BEHIND , GIVING THEM THE FORTITUDE TO BEAR THE PAINS OF LOOSING YOU .

PLEASE DO SEND MY REGARDS TO JUNIOR POPE BECAUSE I KNOW YOU WILL MEET WITH EACH OTHER IN THE WORLD BEYOND .
LET HIM KNOW I MISS HIM AND MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH HIS UNIQUE SOUL .

GO WELL PAPA
TILL WE MEET TO PART NO MORE……”