Crowds of citizens gathered early at the First Cemetery of Athens to bid farewell to Lena Samara and offer their support to her family. Her unexpected death last Thursday evening at Evangelismos Hospital spread grief across Greece, plunging her father, former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, her mother Georgia, and her 27-year-old brother Constantine into unspeakable mourning. On the eve of the Dormition of the Theotokos, while Christianity awaits the Assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven, Lena was lost so young, so prematurely. Lena Samara’s coffin in white was carried from the church shortly after 1:40 PM, followed by her father, mother Georgia, and brother Constantine. Present at the funeral were the President of the Republic, Constantine Tasoulas, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and numerous ministers, MPs, and party representatives. Also in attendance were Manolis Mitsias, Antonis Samaras’ best man and singer, journalist Giannis Pretenteris, and Evangelos Marinakis.
The final farewell to Antonis Samaras’ daughter: Who attended
Despite the adverse heat conditions, people came humbly with tears in their eyes, trying to give courage to her family members. Specifically, New Democracy MPs George Stylios, Ioanna Lytrivi, Giannis Pappas, Christos Boukoros, Achilleas Karamanlis, Kostas Katsafados, Pericles Mantas, Giannis Kallianos, George Vrettakos, Miltos Chrysomallis, Notis Mitarakis, Dionysis Stamenitis, Andreas Katsaniotis, Dimitris Markopoulos, Katerina Monogyiou, the mayor of Glyfada George Papanikolaou, Vassilis Michaloliakos, ONNED president Orpheas Georgios, Anna Michel Asimakopoulou, Stelios Kymboropoulos, Giannis Smyrlis, Kostas Agorastos, Nikos Romanos, Vassilis Kontozamanis, ND MEPs Freddy Beleris, Dimitris Tsiodras, Eliza Vozemberg and George Patoulis, Petros Tatoulis, Andreas Lykourentzos, Giannis Plakiotakis, Grigoris Dimitriadis, Manolis Kefalogiannis, Christos Staikouras, Apostolos Kaklamanis, Nadia Giannakopoulou, Pavlos Geroulanos, Giannis Maniatis, Milena Apostolaki attended. From the business world, shipowner and head of Alter Ego, Evangelos Marinakis was present.
Among others who attended the funeral service at the First Cemetery of Athens were President of the Republic Constantine Tasoulas, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis with his wife Mareva, leader of the main opposition and PASOK president Nikos Androulakis, president of Pleusi Eleftherias Zoe Konstantopoulou, president of Foni Logikis Aphrodite Latinopoulou, former US Ambassador to Greece George Tsunis, former PASOK president Evangelos Venizelos, former Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis with his wife Natasa, former President of the Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos, Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, ministers Nikos Dendias, Vassilis Kikilias, Kostas Tsiaras, Sofia Zacharaki, Domna Michailidou, Olga Kefalogiannis, Stavros Papastavrou, Giannis Vroutsis, Thanos Plevris, Giannis Kefalogiannis, Christos Dimas, Lina Mendoni, Takis Theodorikakos, Parliament Speaker Nikitas Kaklamanis, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou, Deputy Minister Kostas Gkioulekas, ND Secretary Kostas Skrekas, Deputy Minister Giannis Loverdos, government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, Deputy Minister Giannis Andrianos, PASOK Secretary Andreas Spyropoulos, ND MEP Evangelos Meimarakis, Athens Mayor Haris Doukas, Attica Regional Governor Nikos Hardalias, Bank of Greece Governor Giannis Stournaras, Peloponnese Regional Governor Dimitris Ptochos.
Devastated Antonis and Georgia Samara at their daughter’s funeral
See images from the arrival of 34-year-old Lena Samara’s family:
The moving eulogy by Antonis Samaras
Mr. Samaras moved everyone with his eulogy in which he said, among other things, “what can a father say when he loses his child, what can a mother say when she loses her offspring, what can a brother say when he loses his other half when his soul loses its most faithful companion.”
“We are not saying goodbye to Lena today. We will be with her always, next to her light, smile, and humility. Next to her bright blue eyes, a piece of brilliance from Greece. Next to her love that she offered without expecting anything in return. She moved so many with her passing who were so grateful to her. Farewell, Lena, farewell and to God. Lena shone when she gave. I thank God who gave us this gift for 34 years. Safe journey to Paradise,” were Antonis Samaras’ words.
Images from the final farewell to Lena Samara
