Mary Fenech Adami


Mary Sciberras Fenech Adami was the wife of the seventh president of Malta, Edward Fenech Adami. She was First Lady of Malta from 2004 to 2009.

Biography

Early and personal life

Mary Sciberras was born in Sliema on 13 October 1933, and attended Sliema State Secondary School. She married Edward Fenech Adami on 27 June 1965. The couple had five children. Fenech Adami was a private woman, but was "regarded as her husband’s pillar of strength throughout his lengthy political career". She was a devout Catholic, and reportedly never missed daily Mass.

1979 attack

In 1977, Eddie Fenech Adami became leader of the country's Nationalist Party. On 15 October 1979, a large group of thugs ransacked various Nationalist Party clubs and the private residence of Mary and Edward Fenech Adami in Birkirkara, after attacking the premises of the newspaper, ''The Times of Malta. Mary, who was returning from mass, found her home's front door wide open, and ten men inside ransacking the residence. She was beaten by the men, who were carrying "chains and bars".
The 1979 attack, later called "Black Monday", consolidated Eddie Fenech Adami's leadership as in the Nationalist Party.

As First Lady

When Edward Fenech Adami became President, Mary chose not to move into San Anton Palace, instead remaining in her home in Birkirkara. She continued to walk to the local market to buy her own groceries. As First Lady, Fenech Adami did take part in charitable events, such as visiting schools to raise funds for the annual Bank of Valletta's L-Istrina campaign.
She was a chair of the Malta Community Chest Fund.

Later life and death

In 2008, Fenech Adami was given the Grand-Cross of the Order of Prince Henry, Portugal.
Fenech Adami was diagnosed with cancer in 2010, and began undergoing treatment.
In early July 2011, she suffered a heart attack at the wedding of then-Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi’s son. She was hospitalized, dying on 8 July at age 77. Her funeral was held on 10 July in Birkirkara, and "resembled a state funeral".

Awards and honours