FAMILY, FRIENDS GATHER FOR ESIRI

 There was no dry eye at Catholic Church of the Ascension, Lagos, yesterday, as family, friends and colleagues of late Justus Esiri gathered at a service of songs held in honour of the veteran actor.

The officiating Priest, Rev. Father Michael Etegene said: “We are gathered here today to have a service of songs for our friend, father and colleague whom God chose to take home some weeks ago.”

The first reading at the ceremony was taken by the deceased’s first son, Justus Esiri Jnr, while the second was by his second son, Andrew.

The actor’s last son, Sidney Esiri, popularly known by his stage name, Dr. Sid, took the third reading from 2 Thessalonians 4:13-15

While taking the homily, the cleric said that death was an inevitable phenomenon that must occur.

He said: “When we speak at services such as this, whether it is for five minutes or one hour, we are obviously not speaking to the one who is gone, but to ourselves.

“At birth and at death, we don’t take people for granted. We must learn to treasure people all the time. We must always remember, just as St. Augustine said, that our lives are a gift from God.”

About 200 gathered at the church to honour Esiri, including Nollywood stars such as Norbert Young, and Eku Edewor.

Born in November 1942 in Oria, Abraka, Delta State, Esiri had his early education at the Catholic School, Warri, before proceeding to Maximillan University in Munich, Germany.

While in Germany, Esiri, who is survived by a wife and six children, attended Prof. Weners Institute of Engineering, West Berlin, and was later trained at the Ahrens School of Performing Arts.