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María Lorenza Barreneche

1926 – 2016

First lady of Argentina

First Lady
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About María Lorenza Barreneche

Lived 1926 – 2016 (aged 89). María Lorenza Barreneche was an Argentine first Lady.

María Lorenza Barreneche Iriarte (3 July 1926 – 5 January 2016) was an Argentine public figure and First Lady of Argentina from 1983 until 1989 as the wife of the late President Raúl Alfonsín.

Barreneche was born in 1926 in Chascomús, Buenos Aires Province, to Felipe Barreneche Echaide (1896–1984) and María Lorenza Iriarte Hospital (1898–1989). She met her husband, Raúl Alfonsín, a law student who was also born in Chascomús, at a masquerade ball during the 1940s. The couple who married in 1948, had six children namely Raúl Felipe (b. 1949), Ana María (b. 1951), Ricardo (b. 1953), Marcela (b. 1955), María Inés (b. 1957) and Javier Ignacio (b. 1959). Barreneche, who disliked politics, focused on raising their children during her husband's political career.

Former President Raúl Alfonsín died on 31 March 2009. Barreneche was unable to attend his state funeral due to her own poor health. Barreneche had suffered from declining health during her later life, including loss of eyesight and decreased mobility. She died in Buenos Aires on 5 January 2016, at the age of 89. Her remains were cremated at La Chacarita Cemetery. She was buried in La Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires. President Mauricio Macri tweeted his condolences to her family.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
First Lady
Nationality
Awards
Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
Also known as
Maria Lorenza Barreneche

Family & relationships

Spouse
Raúl Alfonsín
Child
Ricardo Alfonsín

People in María Lorenza Barreneche's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped María Lorenza Barreneche's

Frequently asked questions

Who was María Lorenza Barreneche?

first lady of Argentina (1926-2016)

When was María Lorenza Barreneche born?

María Lorenza Barreneche was born on 3 July 1926 in Chascomús.

When did María Lorenza Barreneche die?

María Lorenza Barreneche died on 5 January 2016 in Buenos Aires.

What was María Lorenza Barreneche's occupation?

María Lorenza Barreneche was a first Lady.

What nationality was María Lorenza Barreneche?

María Lorenza Barreneche was Argentine.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: María Lorenza Barreneche

· Wikidata: Q6004142

· DBpedia: María Lorenza Barreneche

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). María Lorenza Barreneche. https://biography.guide/maria-lorenza-barreneche/

MLA: "María Lorenza Barreneche." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/maria-lorenza-barreneche/.

Chicago: "María Lorenza Barreneche." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/maria-lorenza-barreneche/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-26 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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