The Speaker of the Greek Parliament, Nikitas Kaklamanis, spoke to reporters as he exited the Athens Metropolitan Cathedral following the funeral service of beloved Greek actress Maro Kontou, revealing for the first time the silent battle she had been fighting against cancer. Throughout her health ordeal, those closest to Maro Kontou had faithfully honored her personal wishes. While she was still alive, the celebrated actress had explicitly asked her inner circle of friends and family not to speak publicly or discuss her battle with cancer. As a result, no one had spoken about the serious illness she was facing, keeping it entirely away from the public eye.
Read also: Nikitas Kaklamanis moves mourners with heartfelt eulogy for Maro Kontou: “A wandering soul and eternal youth — now I must say my final goodnight” (Video)
Nikitas Kaklamanis’ emotional revelation about Maro Kontou and her silent battle with cancer
Visibly moved, Nikitas Kaklamanis chose to share with journalists and the public the long-kept secret of his dear friend, paying tribute to the greatness of her spirit:
“We have just said goodbye to a great Greek actress, a wonderful person, and a truly remarkable Greek woman. Maro — I can say this now — fought cancer almost entirely on her own for two years. She may not have been able to defeat it in the end, but she left this world the way she wanted to: standing tall and with dignity, just as she had lived her entire life. Godspeed.”
