Leonor Oyarzún
First Lady of Chile from 1990 to 1994
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Leonor Oyarzún Ivanovic (10 March 1919 – 21 January 2022) was a Chilean family therapist and member of the Christian Democratic Party (PDC).[1] She served as the First Lady of Chile from 1990 until 1994 as the wife of President Patricio Aylwin.
10 March 1919
Leonor Oyarzún | |
|---|---|
Oyarzún in 1992 | |
| First Lady of Chile | |
| In role 11 March 1990 – 11 March 1994 | |
| President | Patricio Aylwin |
| Preceded by | Lucía Hiriart |
| Succeeded by | Marta Larraechea |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Leonor Oyarzún Ivanovic 10 March 1919 Temuco, Chile |
| Died | 21 January 2022 (aged 102) Santiago, Chile |
| Party | Christian Democratic Party |
| Spouse | |
| Children |
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Early life
She was born on 10 March 1919 in Temuco,[2] the daughter of Manuel Oyarzún Lorca and Ana Ivanović Roccatagliata. Her father died when she was young.[3] She helped her mother with her five younger sisters.[3]
Oyarzún read an article Aylwin wrote in the National Falange and wanted to meet him.[4] They were introduced by a friend.[4] After dating ten months she married Aylwin on 29 September 1948.[4] The couple had five children.[1] Their daughter Mariana was the Education Minister of Ricardo Lagos' government.[5] Her sister Mercedes was married to politician Hugo Trivelli.[5]
Politics
Oyarzún was a Christian Democrat.[3] She said that though she actively participated with the party her "vocation has always been social action."[3] Prior to becoming First Lady, she was involved with Catholic Action, a group which advocates for increased Catholic influence on society.[2] She helped found CEMA Chile (Central Network of Mothers' Centers) and became the first vice-president.[2] However, the organization was vastly changed when Lucía Hiriart assumed control in 1974.[6] It ended in disgrace after a court ruling in 2022.[6]
In 1967 she enrolled at the Instituto Carlos Casanueva to become a Family and Youth Counselor.[7] After graduating she worked in a group she formed with other graduates.[7] She left the group when she became First Lady.[7]
Oyarzún's experiences prior to becoming First Lady led to a holistic view of the family, women, and the world of children.[4] When she became First Lady, the Sociocultural Coordination of the Presidency of the Republic was created and she became the coordinator.[1] As part of that agency, Oyarzún transformed the National Foundation for Community Aid (FUNACO) into the National Foundation for the Integral Development of Children (Integra).[7] Initially the program focused on early education for children whose families were in extreme poverty.[7] They covered children from age two to age six and were sure to include disabled children and children from diverse ethnic backgrounds.[7] She said, "Helping children is a social investment and a moral imperative."[4]
She also created the Foundation for the Promotion and Development of Women (PRODEMU).[4] It is a state-run foundation that seeks to promote women's personal empowerment and economic autonomy.[8] Another program she created was the Family Foundation.[9] It provides spaces where families can increase their bonds through education and recreation.
Death
After Aylwin's presidency both remained active in politics.[1] Oyarzún's last public appearance was to vote in May 2021.
Oyarzún turned 100 in March 2019. In 2020 she contracted Covid and there were rumors of her death.[1] She died in Santiago on 21 January 2022, at the age of 102.[2]