Lila T. Abaunza
Encyclopedia
Lila Teresita Abaunza Abaunza de Bolaños (29 January 1929 – 17 July 2008) was the First Lady
of Nicaragua
from 2002 until 2007 and the wife of the former President of Nicaragua
, Enrique Bolaños
.
She was well noted for her charitable work.
, Nicaragua
, member of a prestigious family. Her father was Alexander Abaunza Espinoza, President of the Congress of Nicaragua and Public Work Minister and Agriculture in the Partido Liberal
, son of Carlos Abaunza Cuadra and wife Dolores Espinoza .... Her mother was his wife and first cousin Esmeralda Abaunza Solórzano, daughter of Fernando Abaunza Cuadra and wife Marina Solórzano Vasconcelos
, daughter of Enrique Solórzano Cardoze and wife Luz Vasconcelos
..., both of Portuguese
descent, and he the son of Ramón Solórzano Montealegre and second wife Mónica Cardoze ..., who by his first wife Juana Reyes Robira had Federico Solórzano Reyes, married to Rosa Gutiérrez ..., the parents of Carlos José Solórzano
, 58th President of Nicaragua.
She was a relative by both parents of Justo Abaunza
, 25th and 27th President of Nicaragua, of Fernando Guzmán
, 37th President of Nicaragua and by both parents of José Vicente Cuadra
, 38th President of Nicaragua.
Abaunza studied at the La Asunción College in Managua
and the Sacred Heart Preparatory Menlo Park, in California
, USA.
In 1949 she married Enrique Bolaños
. Their five children were Enrique José, Lucía Amanda, Jorge Alejandro (deceased, 2005), Javier Gregorio (deceased, 2007) and Alberto (deceased, 1972).
Lila de Bolaños spent much of her life undertaking charitable work and helping the poor and destitute. As wife of the President she contributed to aid in hospitals, visiting asylums of the old, giving medical support and campaigning to restore old buildings, particularly those destroyed by disasters such as Hurricane Mitch
. She did much work with disabled people.
In June 2008 she was transported by air from Miami to her home in El Raizón about 22 miles outside Masaya
after undergoing a serious deterioration in health. During this period she was reportedly in much pain and died on July 17 2008 after an illness of some seven weeks. Her funeral took place on July 19 and she was buried in the Bolaños family mausoleum in Masaya.
es were said to be amongst the best in Nicaragua. She was also known to be very outspoken and frank in her role as first lady.
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
of Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
from 2002 until 2007 and the wife of the former President of Nicaragua
President of Nicaragua
The position of President of Nicaragua was created in the Constitution of 1854. From 1825 until the Constitution of 1838 the title of the position was known as Head of State and from 1838 to 1854 as Supreme Director .-Heads of State of Nicaragua within the Federal Republic of Central America...
, Enrique Bolaños
Enrique Bolaños
Enrique José Bolaños Geyer was the President of Nicaragua from 10 January 2002 to 10 January 2007. President Bolaños is of Spanish and German heritage and was born in Masaya ....
.
She was well noted for her charitable work.
Biography
Abaunza was born in MasayaMasaya
Masaya, culturally known as the City of Flowers, is the capital city of Masaya department. It is situated approximately 14 km west of Granada and 31 km southeast from Managua. The town of Masaya is situated just East of Masaya Volcano , an active volcano from which the city takes its name...
, Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
, member of a prestigious family. Her father was Alexander Abaunza Espinoza, President of the Congress of Nicaragua and Public Work Minister and Agriculture in the Partido Liberal
Partido Liberal
Partido Liberal may refer to:* Liberal Party * Liberal Party * Liberal Party * Liberal Party * Liberal Party * Liberal Party * Liberal Party * Liberal Party...
, son of Carlos Abaunza Cuadra and wife Dolores Espinoza .... Her mother was his wife and first cousin Esmeralda Abaunza Solórzano, daughter of Fernando Abaunza Cuadra and wife Marina Solórzano Vasconcelos
Vasconcelos
Vasconcelos or Vasconcellos is a surname of Portuguese noble origin, originally a toponym appearing in the late 12th century, and may refer to:-People:...
, daughter of Enrique Solórzano Cardoze and wife Luz Vasconcelos
Vasconcelos
Vasconcelos or Vasconcellos is a surname of Portuguese noble origin, originally a toponym appearing in the late 12th century, and may refer to:-People:...
..., both of Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
descent, and he the son of Ramón Solórzano Montealegre and second wife Mónica Cardoze ..., who by his first wife Juana Reyes Robira had Federico Solórzano Reyes, married to Rosa Gutiérrez ..., the parents of Carlos José Solórzano
Carlos José Solórzano
Carlos José Solórzano Gutiérrez was the President of Nicaragua between 1 January 1925 and 14 March 1926.-Biography:...
, 58th President of Nicaragua.
She was a relative by both parents of Justo Abaunza
Justo Abaunza
Justo Abaunza y Muñoz de Avilés was a Nicaraguan politician, and was twice temporary and acting 25th and 27th President of Nicaragua from 1 April to 5 May 1851 and again from 4 August to 11 November 1851....
, 25th and 27th President of Nicaragua, of Fernando Guzmán
Fernando Guzmán
Fernando Guzmán Solórzano was the President of Nicaragua from 1 March 1867 to 1 March 1871.He was a member of the Conservative Party.He was a relative of Carlos José Solórzano, 58th President of Nicaragua....
, 37th President of Nicaragua and by both parents of José Vicente Cuadra
José Vicente Cuadra
- VICENTE CUADRA 1812 - 1894 :He served as President of the Republic of Nicaragua in Central America during that country's late 19th century reconstruction...
, 38th President of Nicaragua.
Abaunza studied at the La Asunción College in Managua
Managua
Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name. It is the largest city in Nicaragua in terms of population and geographic size. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Xolotlán or Lake Managua, the city was declared the national capital in...
and the Sacred Heart Preparatory Menlo Park, in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA.
In 1949 she married Enrique Bolaños
Enrique Bolaños
Enrique José Bolaños Geyer was the President of Nicaragua from 10 January 2002 to 10 January 2007. President Bolaños is of Spanish and German heritage and was born in Masaya ....
. Their five children were Enrique José, Lucía Amanda, Jorge Alejandro (deceased, 2005), Javier Gregorio (deceased, 2007) and Alberto (deceased, 1972).
Lila de Bolaños spent much of her life undertaking charitable work and helping the poor and destitute. As wife of the President she contributed to aid in hospitals, visiting asylums of the old, giving medical support and campaigning to restore old buildings, particularly those destroyed by disasters such as Hurricane Mitch
Hurricane Mitch
Hurricane Mitch was the most powerful hurricane and the most destructive of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season, with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph . The storm was the thirteenth tropical storm, ninth hurricane, and third major hurricane of the season. Along with Hurricane Georges, Mitch...
. She did much work with disabled people.
In June 2008 she was transported by air from Miami to her home in El Raizón about 22 miles outside Masaya
Masaya
Masaya, culturally known as the City of Flowers, is the capital city of Masaya department. It is situated approximately 14 km west of Granada and 31 km southeast from Managua. The town of Masaya is situated just East of Masaya Volcano , an active volcano from which the city takes its name...
after undergoing a serious deterioration in health. During this period she was reportedly in much pain and died on July 17 2008 after an illness of some seven weeks. Her funeral took place on July 19 and she was buried in the Bolaños family mausoleum in Masaya.
Trivia
Abaunza's NacatamalNacatamal
A nacatamal is a Nicaraguan dish similar to the tamal and yet unlike the tamales typical of Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and elsewhere in Latin America, the nacatamal is unique to Nicaragua both in its name and its culinary combination...
es were said to be amongst the best in Nicaragua. She was also known to be very outspoken and frank in her role as first lady.