Margarita Papandreou, the American-born activist and writer who helped transform women's rights in Greece as the wife of former Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, was buried Sunday at Athens' First Cemetery following a state-recognized funeral attended by family, friends and Greece's political establishment.
Mrs. Papandreou died Friday at age 103. Interior Minister Theodoros Livanios represented the government at the service.
Her son, former Prime Minister George Papandreou, said in his eulogy that his mother "was not born Greek — she became Greek," deeply loving, serving and fighting for the country, particularly through her bond with Greek women who embraced her as one of their own.
His brother, Nikos Papandreou, recalled personal memories, including the night of Greece's 1967 military coup, when Mrs. Papandreou chased the truck carrying his father Andreas, believing he was being taken for execution.
Anna Diamantopoulou, speaking for the Socialist PASOK party, credited Mrs. Papandreou with founding the Union of Women of Greece, which grew to 40,000 members and helped drive sweeping reforms including abolishing dowries, establishing spousal equality, joint parental authority, equal pay protections and a woman's right to keep her surname after marriage.
She called it "the greatest change for women since the founding of the Greek state."
Mrs. Papandreou's granddaughter, also named Margarita, described her as a grandmother who pushed her to question, grow and dance.
Mrs. Papandreou will be scattered at sea in the Aegean, a tribute organizers said reflected her lifelong love of the water.