France is paying tribute this Friday, June 12, to Bernadette Chirac, who passed away a week ago at the age of 93. The funeral ceremony for the wife of the former President of the Republic is taking place in the capital, marking the end of a life devoted to public and family service. A discreet yet determined woman, she stood by Jacques Chirac throughout his political career, from the Paris City Hall to the Élysée Palace.
Bernadette Chirac is remembered as one of the most influential First Ladies of the Fifth Republic. Her work on behalf of hospitalized children and people with disabilities, particularly through the Fondation Hôpitaux de Paris-Hôpitaux de France, which she chaired, earned her the nation’s gratitude. A mother of two daughters, Laurence and Claude, she embodied a certain ideal of family and marital fidelity in the face of adversity.
