Eva Peron - Her Body's Trip from Death to Grave
I recently returned from a trip to Argentina. One of the things I learned there was the interesting fate of Eva Peron’s body.
Eva Peron died of uterine cancer in 1952 at the age of 33. The disease had ravaged her body and a doctor began embalming it the night of her death so it would be appropriate for public display.
After her death, plans were made to build a giant public monument in her honour and to display her body at the bottom of it. However, when her husband, Juan Peron, was overthrown three years after her death, and went into exile, Eva’s body was taken by members of the new regime.
There is some dispute over what exactly happened over the ensuing fifteen years. However, the consensus seems to be that it was hidden in a variety of places in Argentina, including the attic of an army major, a truck, and a military base before it was shipped to Italy and buried under a false name in a cemetery near Milan.
In 1971, a new regime returned the body to her husband who was, by then, remarried and living in Madrid. He is said to have kept the bodyon display in an open casket on top of his dining room table.
In 1973, Juan regained power and returned to Argentina. However, he left Eva’s body behind in Spain. It was only after his death that his wife, Isabel Peron, arranged for the body to be returned to Argentina.
Today, Eva’s body lies at rest in La Recoleta Cemetery (Juan's is buried elsewhere). The irony is that La Recoleta is the where many of the Argentinean elite a buried – the very people who despised Evita and her politics.
Have a great day.
Megan Connolly
Eva Peron died of uterine cancer in 1952 at the age of 33. The disease had ravaged her body and a doctor began embalming it the night of her death so it would be appropriate for public display.
After her death, plans were made to build a giant public monument in her honour and to display her body at the bottom of it. However, when her husband, Juan Peron, was overthrown three years after her death, and went into exile, Eva’s body was taken by members of the new regime.
There is some dispute over what exactly happened over the ensuing fifteen years. However, the consensus seems to be that it was hidden in a variety of places in Argentina, including the attic of an army major, a truck, and a military base before it was shipped to Italy and buried under a false name in a cemetery near Milan.
In 1971, a new regime returned the body to her husband who was, by then, remarried and living in Madrid. He is said to have kept the bodyon display in an open casket on top of his dining room table.
In 1973, Juan regained power and returned to Argentina. However, he left Eva’s body behind in Spain. It was only after his death that his wife, Isabel Peron, arranged for the body to be returned to Argentina.
Today, Eva’s body lies at rest in La Recoleta Cemetery (Juan's is buried elsewhere). The irony is that La Recoleta is the where many of the Argentinean elite a buried – the very people who despised Evita and her politics.
Have a great day.
Megan Connolly
