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Eva Peron
First Lady Of Argentina
Love her or hate her, Eva Peron leaves a big mark on the pages of Argentina's history.
Senora Maria Eva Duarte de Peron
was born illegitimately on May 7, 1919 in Los Toldos in the Pampas region of Argentina. Eva's social awareness began at an early age. After her father died, her mother hired herself out as a cook to wealthy families where Eva witnessed the monumental differences between rich and poor. Not the best student, Eva decided she wanted to become an actress. At the age of 15 she met a tango singer and accompanied him to Buenos Aires. She became a courtesan to many men after undistinguished attempts at modeling, acting in plays and radio and eventually the movies. She wanted to be a star and used any connection she could find with powerful men and high-ranking military officials to advance her quest.
In 1943 Eva met Colonel Juan Peron while he was Secretary of Labor. They married in 1945 and were well suited to each other. Both highly ambitious, they were attracted to a life of power and prestige. Although unusual for a woman at the time, Eva led Juan's campaign for the presidency by appealing to the poor and underprivileged citizens of Argentina whom she labeled los descamisados, or the shirtless ones. She despised the high society of Argentina and used her poor beginnings as fuel in her
campaign speeches
. Juan Peron was elected President of Argentina in 1946.
Evita, as she wanted her followers to address her, founded the Eva Peron Foundation after her husband was elected president. Funded by a day's pay per year from each working citizen of Argentina, the foundation distributed funds to the poor and the elderly. In addition to building schools and hospitals, the Eva Peron Foundation saw to the building of Evita Village, a housing project with 4000 furnished homes for the disadvantaged. She became known to her devoted public as the "Lady of Hope". She was also instrumental in getting a bill passed which gave women the right to vote.
For all the good that
Eva Peron
did for the less fortunate, there were many citizens of Argentina who despised her. As much of a dictator as her husband, Eva was very vindictive and used her power along with her husband's military control to have anyone who disagreed with the Peronist movement put in jail.
Eva Peron died July 26, 1952 from uterine cancer at the age of 33. The country was in shock and mourning. Hundreds of thousands of Argentinians came to view her body which was displayed for three days at the Ministry of Labor in Buenos Aires. In keeping with the adoration she received in life,
she never wanted to be forgotten
in death. Her husband hired a Spanish pathologist who spent two years embalming her remains. Juan Peron's plans to build a huge mausoleum to display Evita's body were thwarted by a revolution of the people of Argentina, and he was forced to flee to Spain. Her body was buried in Milan, Italy under a fictitious name. After 20 years, Juan was able to return to Argentina and had the body returned as well. The Italian cemetery workers who exhumed her body were astounded by the fact that it was flawless. Upon the death of Juan Peron in 1974, Eva Peron was laid to rest a final time at La Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires.
 
Funeral Wreaths for Evita Peron Cover Street
Beneath Statue of Julio Argentino Roca
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