Sombre mood as two Kenyan women are laid to rest in US
Mourners during a memorial service in honour of Ms Victoria Nyambura Muchiri, who died last week after being hit by a cargo train in Columbus, Ohio. Another Kenyan woman, Ms Wanja Mbatia, who died shortly after delivering a baby in Atlanta, Georgia, was also buried Saturday. PHOTO | BMJ MURIITHI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Ms Wanja Mbatia died shortly after delivering a baby in Atlanta, Georgia.
- Ms Victoria Nyambura Muchiri died instantly after being hit by a Norfolk Southern Company cargo train on Thursday last week.
- Ms Muchiri’s remains were cremated shortly after the service.
Two Kenyan women who died recently in different circumstances in the US were given warm send-offs during two memorial services held simultaneously on Saturday.
Tears flowed freely as Kenyans in Georgia and Ohio eulogised Ms Wanja Mbatia, who died shortly after delivering a baby in Atlanta, and Ms Victoria Nyambura Muchiri, who was crushed by a fast-moving train in Columbus, Ohio.
A sombre mood engulfed West Cobb Funeral Home in Marietta, Georgia, where the service was held before the body of Ms Mbatia was laid to rest at the nearby Kennesaw Memorial Park.
Her parents, who arrived in the US on Thursday for the funeral, sat pensively as speakers paid tribute to the 34-year-old woman, who had recently graduated with a master's degree in computer science from a nearby university.
OVERWHELMED
“We are overwhelmed by the love and support accorded to our daughter by the Kenyan community in Atlanta even in her absence,” an emotional Mrs Mbatia told the mourners.
Rev George G. Gitahi, who officiated the event, urged those present to continue supporting the family “and especially the two-week-old Riley Wanja, who will grow up without a mother.”
The circumstances leading to Ms Mbatia’s death have left the family and friends in shock. Soon after the girl was born at Kennestone Hospital, the mother developed severe haemorrhage and was rushed to the emergency room, where a blood transfusion was administered before an emergency surgery was carried out.
She never made it out of the surgical room.
'HARD-WORKING STUDENT'
In Ohio, hundreds of mourners packed the First Community Church in Columbus to bid farewell to Victoria Nyambura Muchiri, who was a biology major at Ohio State University.
Her former high school teachers as well as college professors described her as “a hard-working student who was full of empathy.”
Several speakers fought back tears as they eulogised Ms Muchiri, who died instantly after being hit by a Norfolk Southern Company cargo train on Thursday last week.
Her parents, Bishop Douglas Muchiri and Pastor Faith Muchiri, could not contain their emotions as speakers paid glowing tributes to their daughter.
“She had expressed her wish to go and help the less fortunate in Kenya after graduating from medical school,” said Bishop Tonui, a friend of the family.
Ms Muchiri’s remains were cremated shortly after the service.
