After a wake-keeping mass, the corpse of the mother of Cameroon’s First Lady is taken to the mortuary of the Yaounde General Hospital on Thursday.

 Uncontrollable tears ran down the cheeks of family members and well-wishers as the mortal remains of Mrs Mboutchouang Née Ndongo Mengolo Rosette Marie, were carried into her residence at the Bastos neighbourhood in Yaounde on October 14, 2014.

Mourners, mostly women from the Grand West community in the Mfoundi Division of the Centre Region as well as family members, wailed immensely as the coffin of late Rosette Mboutchouang, covered with the flag of the country, was carried into the living room of her Bastos residence at midday. The deceased’s lone daughter, Cameroon’s First Lady, Mrs Chantal Biya, in the arms of her step-father, Mr Mboutchouang solemnly entered the premises of the Bastos residence alongside other family members and the Director  of the Civil Cabinet at the Presidency of the Republic, Martin Belinga Eboutou.

After the casket was laid in the parlour, Abbe Georges Mballa Owono made a prayer for the deceased’s sins to be forgiven. He called on God almighty to grant her mercy so that she can find peace in His kingdom. While the First Lady was sitting around the casket of her mother, different groups came round the coffin to condole with her. Prominent were women from the Bamileke clan who displayed a typical Bamileke tradition to enter a funeral house crying. Other groups displayed their agony by placing both hands on their head as they went round the coffin. At the deceased’s Bastos residence, her pictures have been pasted around while at the entrance of the gate, a message from Bangou Council reads “Mayor of Bangou Council, we will never forget you.” Banners from different groups expressed the sorrowful state of the hearts of mourners. Besides attires that carried the effigy of Mama Rosette, black t-shirts wore by mourners read; “Mama Rosette Forever”.