Sunday 5 March
It was standing room only at the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Benjamin Avenue, as hundreds of family, friends and colleagues came to pay their respects to the late Lucya Spencer, former Executive Director of the Immigrant Women Services Ottawa, who died on 15 February, aged 73. The funeral ceremony presided over by Rev. Orlando Pule, was marked with eulogies, song and tears as one after another, people paid tribute to the esteemed community leader and women’s advocate. Leading the mourners were: Lucya’s daughter, Andrea, her brothers: John, Eugene, Leighton, Stedmore and James, sisters Doristeen and Evelyn, and nephew John, while sister Kathleen sent her tribute by video link from her home base in Antigua. Among those paying tribute to the late community leader were: Executive Director of IWSO Mercy Lawluvi; Executive Director Crime Prevention Ottawa, Nancy Worsfied,; Executive Director LASI World Skills Mengistab Tsegaye; ad Executive Director of Ontario Agencies Serving Immigrants, Debbie Douglas. Among the dignitaries present were Ottawa Chief of Police, Charles Bordeleau, Executive Director Catholic Centre for Immigrants Carl Nicholson and Executive Director, Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organisation, Leslie Emory.
The funeral was followed by burial at the Capital Cemetery on Prince of Wales Drive.
Photos copyright Black Ottawa Scene