Family, friends bid farewell to Nora

The overall ambience and mood at Nora's Schimming-Chase's funeral on Saturday gave evidence that Namibia has lost a great unifier, a brave woman, described as one who would “go to the ends of the world for the good of her motherland”.Her funeral was preceded by memorial services in the Martin Lutheran Church in Khomasdal as well as a service in the parliamentary gardens, attended largely by her family, close friends and comrades from the liberation struggle days. Schimming-Chase chose to be buried next to her parents and late siblings on the family farm De Rust, west of Rehoboth, and not at Heroes' Acre in Windhoek. Mourners often smiled as one eulogy after the other was read, bringing to life the once phenomenal woman who pulled out all the stops to realise her ideals to see the country liberated. It was a celebration of a life well lived.As her coffin was lowered into the grave the singing grew louder and family members held each other seeking comfort because Auntie Nora, the family stalwart, has gone home. President Hage Geingob said he knew Schimming-Chase as a freedom fighter who also contributed to the realisation of the country's struggle for economic freedom. “Nora was an indeed a unifier. Today I saw all kinds of people here. “Her children told me she was not only their mother but that everybody was welcome in her house,” he said. Theo-Ben Gurirab said Schimming-Chase was a formidable leader and would forever live on in his memory. “She was an eminent ambassador. Her very life was lived as role model,” he said. Schimming-Chase's eldest and only remaining sibling, Otillie Abrahams, said her sister had a very strong personality and remembered how they always fought when she had to comb her hair as a child. She also related how Schimming-Chase's parents struggled to convince her to stop sucking her fingers as a child. “I remember how she was also so different from other children her age - her enthusiasm to do things was unstoppable. And whatever task she took on she passed with merit,” she related. Abrahams said she was very proud of Schimming-Chase's achievements.“She was a determined, but very kind and considerate person,” she said. Her funeral was attended by her family, President Hage Geingob and his wife Monica Geingos, the Speaker of the National Assembly Peter Katjavivi, Theo-Ben Gurirab, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and corporate leaders. JEMIMA BEUKES

Family, friends bid farewell to Nora

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-13

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Family, friends bid farewell to Nora

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-13

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