Death
Berberian was due to appear on March 7, 1983 in a broadcast for RAI Italian Television in Rome. She had to perform the Italian version of The Internationale, the anthem of international socialism. On 6 March she left her apartment in Milan with Luigi Manca who had helped her from many years in her daily routine and who also was her second husband. Arriving at Rome airport, the couple went straight to a restaurant owned by a friend of Berberian. Afterwards, on a taxi that was taking them to the Hotel Mondial, Berberian started to be sick. As soon as they reached their hotel rooms a doctor was summoned and when arrived he could only declare Berberian's death, due to a heart attack, as was later confirmed by the autopsy.
Her body was cremated in Rome and then the urn with her ashes was brought to Milan where on 13 March a ceremony was held in the Armenian Church of Via Jommelli. The ashes were divided between Berberian's brother Ervant and her daughter Cristina who later dispersed them in the Mediterranean sea, in front of the city of Oneglia, along with pink orchids, Berberian's favorite flower.
Read more about this topic: Cathy Berberian
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