Wife of Cardinal James Odunmbaku Dies, Burial Set for Alausa
Mrs. Simi Odunmbaku, wife of Cardinal (Dr.) James Omolaja Odunmbaku, a respected Lagos-based clergyman and chieftaincy title holder, has died, the family announced on Saturday.
In a letter signed by Dr. (Mrs.) Funke Adepoju Olayomi on behalf of the family, her passing was described as a painful loss not only to them but to everyone who knew her. She was remembered as a woman of grace, service, compassion and quiet strength, qualities the family said defined her life as a wife, mother and matriarch.
Mrs. Odunmbaku had a notable public service career, having served as a former Commissioner for Women Affairs in Ondo State, a role through which she built a reputation for advocacy on behalf of women and families across the state. That background, the family noted, shaped much of the grace and service she was known for in later years.
The deceased is being remembered for the steady support she gave him through decades of family and community life, with relatives describing her as a quiet but firm presence whose influence shaped the household long before it was publicly acknowledged.
According to the notification, funeral arrangements have already been concluded. A wake-keep will be held on Thursday, 2nd July 2026, at Hyde Park, Alausa, Lagos, followed by the burial service on Friday, 3rd July 2026, at the Chapel of Christ the Light, also in Alausa.
The family has invited dignitaries, friends and well wishers to join them in paying their last respects, describing the occasion as a celebration of a life devoted to value, service and impact.
Tributes are expected to continue pouring in from political, religious and community figures in the coming days as the family prepares to lay Mrs. Odunmbaku to rest.