Morrisville, VT – Ruth Chiaka Iheme, nee Chukwueze, 67, passed away with her daughter by her side listening to a favorite hymn, on Friday, October 4, 2024. She was born on September 7th, 1957, in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, to the late Pa Jeremiah Ignatius Chukwueze, who was a minister of God's Kingdom Society, and the late Madam Patience Oduenyi Chukwueze of Umualumaku Uzoagba in Imo State, Nigeria. She was the sixth child in a family of three sons and seven daughters.

Ruth went to Orerokpe Grammar School, Orerokpe in Delta State, and was the head prefect of the school. She joined the Nigerian Customs Service in 1975 and served for thirty-two years and retired as the Deputy Superintendent of Customs in 2007.

She was married to the late Franklin Obinna Iheme, and the union was blessed with two children: Charles Ogbonna Iheme and Edith Oluchi Smith.

Ruth relocated to the United States of America to be with her daughter Edith and son-in-law Joshua Smith and three grandchildren: Elizabeth, Jordan, and Ignatius Smith. She was blessed and loved her in-laws, Pamela and Brent Smith, and the entire Smith family.

She was full of life, she loved music, she loved to sing praises and dance. She loved to cook and entertain her family and friends. Ruth had great wisdom, she was truthful, kind, loving and always supportive to her family. She loved her brothers and sisters dearly.

Ruth was a member of God's Kingdom Society, Shogunle Branch in Lagos, Nigeria, and loved to worship Jehovah as her late father did; he devoted his life to the service of God in the Lord's ministry. She was a woman of faith – indeed she was. She held on to her faith till the end as it is the will of Jehovah God that she should rest in the lord.

We love you Mom, and we shall see you again on the day of resurrection by the grace of God (John 5: 28 – 29).

Ruth is predeceased by her parents, Pa Jeremiah Ignatius, and Madam Patience Oduenyi Chukwueze.

She is survived by; her children, Charles Iheme, Edith Smith, and son-in-law Joshua Smith; her grandchildren, Elizabeth Amarachi, Jordan Oluchi, and Ignatius Ikechukwu Smith; her siblings, Mrs. Agnes Utobivbi, Bro. Paul Chukwueze, Mrs. Priscilla Onyenze, Mrs. Grace Onyegbula, Mrs. Judith Straw, Ms. Rachel Chukwueze, Bro. Israel Chukwueze, Ms. Esther Chukwueze, and Bro. Chukwuma Chukwueze; her in-laws, Brent and Pamela Smith, Mr. Gabriel Onyegbula, Mr. Graham Straw, and Mrs. Clara Chukwueze, Eze Emmanuel Onyenze, Mrs. Felicia Chukwueze; as well as many nieces and nephews.