Friday, June 19, 2009

Salvador Allende's Widow Passes Away

Hortensia "Tencha" Bussi, the widow of the late Chilean president Salvador Allende, passed away at her Santiago home on Thursday.  She was 94 years old.

Bussi accompanied her husband on the political campaign trail and, as first lady, was active in many social programs.  During the military dictatorship she fled to Mexico, where she was very active in campaigns against the dictatorship.  She returned to Chile in 1990 when civilian rule was restored.

For Bussi's 94th birthday, President Michelle Bachelet sent her a card where she expressed appreciation for Bussi's "enormous commitment, yesterday and today, to our democracy."

Online sources: Associated Press, Latin American Herald Tribune

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