Dozens of people attended the burning chapel of Itziar Castro yesterday to say their last goodbyes to the actress, who died on Friday at the age of 46 as a result of a cardiorespiratory arrest, and to support her family.
The vigil took place in the Palladius municipal hall in Pallejà (Barcelona), the town where the actress’s mother, Lucía Rivadulla, lived. The coffin was open with the LGBTIQ flag over it and it was next to a lectern with a photograph of the actress that read “I just want you to remember me from time to time”. There were also many wreaths sent by family and friends, as well as the Academy of Cinema and FC Barcelona. The music was playing I will survive, by Gloria Gaynor.
At the entrance to the vigil, Itziar Castro’s mother, very emotional, thanked “so many people from everywhere” for the recognition they have shown towards her daughter. “I really did not expect this welcome” and that his daughter “must be very happy” for all the support received after his death. “Perhaps it was her moment, for you to value her so much. I thank you all because all the press have been very kind to her”, added the mother of the actress about the media.
Over a black dress she wore a coat and a red scarf, “Because Itziar was red, red of light, red of life”, her mother recalled when her daughter began to be interested in acting and she started in a local theater group, beginning in a profession in which she did not always have it easy, but she emphasized that she was very strong: “And she fought very, very hard. He didn’t have it easy.”
Lucía Rivadulla also wanted to send a message to parents who reject their children for being homosexual to tell them “Look, everyone is the way they are, and she is the way she was”.
The singer-songwriter Lídia Pujol also wanted to say goodbye to Itziar Castro and performed Mi querida España and País petit in front of the coffin. Among the people who visited the vigil were the son of cook Carme Ruscalleda, also cook Raül Balam Ruscalleda; presenters Ares Teixidó and Alejandra Castelló; journalist Cristina Fallarás; the lawyer Carla Vall, and the actress María Botto.
“There are people who don’t disappear because their lives have changed the way we live in the world,” Fallarás said, adding that the actress changed the way women see their bodies, their futures and how to live to themselves
Vall raised her as a great activist and a great feminist who turned them into stronger and freer women, and “a person tremendously connected to life”, whose friendship was a gift.
For her part, María, very affected, said that she did not have the strength to speak, but she valued “his activism and his generosity”. They also sent a telegram of condolence to the family in which they emphasized that she was a charismatic actress of enormous talent, but also a social example.
Hugo Castro, Itziar’s brother, also thanked the shows of affection towards his sister in these “hard times” and said that now there is “one more star in the sky”.
An intimate funeral will be held this afternoon only for his family and friends.
