Former First Lady Mary Fenech Adami, who was hospitalised last Saturday after suffering a heart attack during the wedding reception of Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi’s son, died yesterday afternoon.

Mrs Fenech Adami, wife of President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami, died at 3pm yesterday at the age of 77. She leaves to mourn her loss her husband and five children, John, Maria, Beppe, Michael and Luigi.

She was taken ill during the wedding reception at Girgenti Palace, and was given CPR by the Prime Minister’s brother, MP Michael Gonzi.

There has been a wave of sympathy for Mrs Fenech Adami, who was diagnosed with cancer last year and had been receiving treatment, since it was first announced that she was hospitalised.

Mrs Fenech Adami, has been described by many as a humble and exemplary woman. But the word humble, does not do justice to the woman – she was regarded as her husband’s pillar of strength throughout his lengthy political career.

She tended to keep a low profile, even during the time her husband served as President of the Republic between 2004 and 2009.

The Prime Minister, who expressed his condolences to the family, described Mrs Fenech Adami as a mother of strong values, who worked silently and willingly for others.

Dr Gonzi said the Maltese people’s thoughts are with the family at this time.

The Nationalist Party also referred to Mrs Fenech Adami’s strong and determined character, commenting that she had successfully raised a family of five children.

Throughout she remained a source of strength for her husband, even when the family went through a particularly difficult time after he was elected leader of the Nationalist Party in 1977 and their Birkirkara home was ransacked and looted by a mob of Labour Party supporters.

The Labour Party also expressed condolences with Dr Fenech Adami, Nationalist MP Beppe Fenech Adami and the four other children, and other relatives. Alternattiva Demokratika also expressed condolences.

Parliament also paid tribute to Mrs Fenech Adami. Labour MP Owen Bonnici commented on how she had always loved her family and been so proud of her children. The President of the Republic, George Abela, also expressed hisand Mrs Abela’s sadness at her passing.

He said she had served the country for many years, before he was even born, and described her as a person who fulfilled all her duties, as wife of a Prime Minister and then President.

Dr Bonnici said he would always seek to sit next to her at various cultural events they both attended, as she was someone you could always learn from. He expressed his condolences to the family. Standard Publications also wishes to extend its condolences to the family.

The funeral is to be held at 10am on Monday at St Helen’s Basilica in Birkirkara.