Peru’s flag was flown at half-mast at all public buildings and grounds and military posts on Friday, to honor former Lima Mayor Alberto Andrade, who died of pulmonary fibrosis in the U.S. state of Washington.
“I want to thank everyone,” said Andrade’s widow, Anita Botteri. “He was an excellent father, grand-father and husband. Today has been so overwhelming: the recognition, and so many people in attendance to give him one last good-bye. I want to tell you that he lived to the fullest and dies peacefully, surrounded by his family.”
Andrade’s remains arrived in Lima on Friday morning, shortly after his death on June 19, 2009. Andrade died of complications associated with pulmonary fibrosis in a private Washington hospital.
His coffin, wrapped in a Peruvian flag, was honored successively at Lima’s City Hall and Peru’s Congress. Peru President Alan García, Defense Minister Ántero Flores-Áraoz, Congress President Javier Velásquez Quesquén, Justice Minister Rosario Fernández and Labor Minister Jorge Villasante were among those in attendance.
According to Andrade’s will, the ceremony was celebrated to the tune of “música criolla” and his remains were incinerated Saturday at Lima’s Jardines de la Paz Cemetery.
Andrade, a lawyer, began his political career as a member of the Christian People’s Party in 1983. He later founded his own party, Somos Perú, in 1994. A year later, Andrade won the elections as mayor of Lima and his popularity won him another term in office in 1998.
