Nonye Anyafulu Funeral Mass Booklet by Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF)

Adieu! Harriet Genevieve Nonye Anyafulu

Sunrise: 10/12/85 - Sunset: 12/07/24

Harriet Genevieve Nonyelum Anyafulu was born on October 12, 1985 at Onitsha, Anambra State Nigeria to late Romaine, Augustine Amechi and Magdaline Amanda Nkechi Anyafulu. She passed on to eternity on December 7, 2024 at Zuckerberg General Hospital in San Francisco California.

Nonye received an Associate Degree in Liberal Studies from Chabot College Hayward, a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration from Cal State University East Bay and was pursuing her master’s degree before her premature death. Her career spanned from healthcare, planning, culinary arts to business management. Her greatest talent was in her work as a healthcare worker where she made a lasting impact on her patients and co-workers alike but her dream was to be a Michelin Star Chef, and she would have made it but for the cruel hand of death. Our Nonye was a bad ass cook, had a loving and generous spirit and a kind, infectious smile that mirrored her cautious, gentle mien. She was nurturing, loved deeply and wholly, and gave generously of her talent and treasure.

Nonye, as she was fondly called at home, is the oldest of five children raised by a formerly divorced and later widowed mother. This helped mold her nurturing personality because she had to help take care of her siblings. She loved and doted on her beloved daughter and her siblings, and they reciprocated in kind. With a heart of gold, quick wits, and a passion for life our Nonye loved people, saw good in all and most importantly loved God and tried to live a life that glorified God. She was adventurous, loved fashion in all its forms, music, good food- from Nigerian native to Asian fusion, American, French, you name it, she tried it; exotic arts and crafts; make up artistry. We have a room full of her makeup as proof.

Nonye is survived by her loving mother, Amanda Nkechi Anyafulu; her daughter, Ruby Anyafulu; four siblings - Daisy, Maureen, Ally and Anthony, numerous uncles, aunties, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her father. She leaves a deep void that nothing can ever fill. God rest your gentle soul in perfect peace, my beloved daughter- you now belong to the ages. You fought the good fight, you kept the faith, you finished the race. Now there is in store for you, the crown of righteousness, that Lord, the righteous Judge will bestow on you.

Nonye’s homecoming service will hold at Queen of Heaven Cemetry in Lafayette, CA, at 10 am, January 18, 2025. As the popular Elton John song “Candle in the Wind,” Nonye, your candle burned out long before your legend ever did. We love you but God loves you most. Sleep on, beloved.

INTRODUCTORY RITES

GREETING (at the door of the church) (stand)

Priest: May the Father of mercies, the God of all consolation, be with you.

All: And with your spirit.

Priest: SPRINKLING WITH HOLY WATER :

Requiem: Deacon

Introit . 4 Esdr.2,34,35

Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Te decet hymnus Deus, in Sion, et tibi reddetur votum in Ierusalem. Exaudi orationem meam; ad te omnis caro veniet. Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. A hymn becometh thee, O God, in Zion, and unto thee a vow shall be repaid in Jerusalem. Hear my prayer; unto thee all flesh shall come. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them

ENTRANCE PROCESSION: All To Jesus (I Surrender)

All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give, I will ever love and trust Him

In His presence daily live, All to Jesus I surrender, Only at Your feet I bow

Worldly pleasures all forsaken, Fill me with Your love and power

I surrender all, I surrender all, (Twice) All to You, my blessed Savior

I surrender all

All to You, my blessed Savior I surrender all

PLACING OF CHRISTIAN SYMBOLS (Book of the Gospels or Bible)

Priest: In life Harriet cherished the Gospel of Christ. May Christ now greet her with these words of eternal life: All: Come, blessed of my Father!

Cross

Priest: In baptism Harriet received the sign of the Cross.

All: May she now share in Christ's victory over sin and death.

Rosary Beads

Priest: In life Harriet prayed the mystery of Christ through the Rosary.

All: May Christ now welcome her to the throne of grace.

COLLECT

Priest: Almighty God and Father, it is our certain faith that your Son, who died on the Cross, was raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep. Grant that through this mystery your servant Harriet, who has gone to her rest in Christ, may share in the joy of his resurrection.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

All: Amen

LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading:

A reading from the Book of Wisdom: 3:1-9

The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But , they are in peace. For if before men, indeed they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; They shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the LORD shall be their King forever. Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with his elect. The word of the Lord

Response: Thanks be to God

RESPONSORIAL PSALM (PSALM 23)

Response: In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell forever and ever.

1. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want, Fresh and green are the pastures where He gives me repose. Near restful waters He leads me to revive my drooping spirit

Response

2. He guides me along the right path. He is true

to his name. If I should walk in the valley of darkness no evil would I fear. You are there with your crook and your staff, with these you give me comfort. Response

3. You have prepared a banquet for me in the sight of my foes. My head you have anointed with oil, my cup is overflowing. Response

4. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my live. In the house of the Lord shall I dwell forever and ever. Response

SECOND READING- Romans

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans : 8:31b-35, 37-39

What

will separate us from the love of Christ?

Brothers and sisters: If God is for us, who can be against us? He did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, will he not also give us everything else along with him? Who will bring a charge against God's chosen ones? It is God who acquits us. Who will condemn? It is Christ Jesus who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.

What will separate us from the love of Christ?

Will anguish, or distress or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? No, in all these things, we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us.

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to

separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. The word of the Lord.

Response: Thanks be to God

Gospel acclamation Matthew 25:34: Come, you who are blessed by my Father, says the Lord; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

GOSPEL

A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Matthew (Matthew 11: 25-30)

At that time Jesus said in reply,“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to

the childlike.’

Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.

All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

The Gospel of the Lord — Praise be to You

Lord Jesus

HOMILY

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL

Priest: For those who live a sincere and good life, the hour of death is transformed into an hour of glory, because Christ gives them the crown of eternal life. Let us pray in our hour of loss.

Aziza — Mehe Onu Uzo , Onu Uzo Nke enigwe, Mehe Onu Uzo Ka Harriet were bata

Reader: For Harriet who in baptism was given the pledge of eternal life, that she now be admitted to the company of the saints. We pray to the Lord.