María Lorenza Barreneche

María Lorenza Barreneche Iriarte (July 3, 1926 – January 5, 2016) was an Argentine public figure and wife of the late President Raúl Alfonsín. She held the position of First Lady of Argentina from 1983 until 1989.[1][2][3]

María Lorenza Barreneche
First Lady of Argentina
In office December 10, 1983 – July 8, 1989
President	Raúl Alfonsín
Preceded by	Nilda Raquel Belén
Succeeded by	Zulema Yoma
Personal details
Born	July 3, 1926 Chascomús, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Died	January 5, 2016 (aged 89) Buenos Aires, Argentina
Spouse(s)	Raúl Alfonsín ​ ​ (m. 1949; died 2009)​
Children	Raúl Felipe Ana María Ricardo Luis Marcela María Inés Javier Ignacio

Barreneche was born in 1926 in Chascomús, Buenos Aires Province, to Felipe Barreneche Echaide (1898-1984) and María Lorenza Iriarte Hospital (1898-1989).[2][3] She was of Basque descent.[4] She met her husband, Raúl Alfonsín, a law student who was also born in Chascomús, at a masquerade ball during the 1940s.[2][3] The couple, who married in 1949, had six children: Raúl Felipe (b. 1949), Ana María (b. 1950), Ricardo (b. 1952), Marcela (b. 1953), María Inés (b. 1954), and Javier Ignacio (b. 1956).[2][3] Barreneche, who disliked politics, focused on raising their children during her husband's political career.[3]

Former President Raúl Alfonsín died on March 31, 2009.[3] Barreneche Iriarte was unable to attend his state funeral due to her own poor health.[3] Barreneche had suffered from declining health during her later life, including loss of eyesight and decreased mobility.[1] She died in Buenos Aires on January 5, 2016, at the age of 89.[1] Her remains were cremated at La Chacarita Cemetery.[1][2] She was buried in La Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires.[2][3] President Mauricio Macri tweeted his condolences to her family.[3]

References

1. "María Barreneche, Raúl Alfonsín's widow, dies". Buenos Aires Herald. 2016-01-06. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
2. "Murió María Lorenza Barreneche, la viuda de Raúl Alfonsín". La Nación. 2016-01-06. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
3. "Murió María Lorenza Barrenechea, la esposa de Raúl Alfonsín". Clarín (Argentine newspaper). 2016-01-06. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
4. ""Ha muerto el padre de la democracia", titularon los diarios argentinos la noticia sobre el fallecimiento de Raúl Alfonsín". Euskal Kultura. 2009-04-03. Retrieved 2016-01-10.