Ex-President Emil Constantinescu deplores death of Rodica Coposu, sister of former PNTCD leader Corneliu Coposu

Romania's former President Emil Constantinescu deplores the death of Rodica Coposu, sister of Christian Democratic National Peasant Party (PNTCD) leader Corneliu Coposu, confessing that her love for people, tolerance and devotion in keeping alive the memory of her illustrious brother have earned her a special place in his heart.

"I was honored to be at the side of sisters Flavia and Rodica on the last journey of the Senior, together with Queen Anne and Princess Margareta, and I enjoyed their warm friendship over the years. Patriarch Corneliu Coposu was not buried with national honors, but hundreds of thousands of Romanians participated in the mourning gathering in Revolution Square, after an impressive procession which started from the PNTCD headquarters in Rosetti Square and stopped for a memorial prayer in University Square, the place of the founding sacrifice of the December 1989 revolutionaries. 'What really counts is for an attitude to survive. If this triumphs, my disappearance is unimportant,' Corneliu Coposu said just short before his passing into legend. This attitude survived and was passed down by all those who were close to the Senior and his sisters," Constantinescu said.

The former head of state recalls one of the "particularly precious memories from the get-togethers" with Corneliu Coposu's sister.

"Rodica Coposu will live on for me through the particularly precious memories collected during our get-togethers. Among these, the letter that accompanied Corneliu Coposu's shirt buttons which sisters Flavia and Rodica offered me as a gift on November 19, 2000, on the anniversary of my birthday: 'From the few memories left from Cornel, who valued and loved you very much'. May she rest in peace! Condolences to the family and the Corneliu Coposu Foundation!," is Emil Constantinescu's message in a release of the Institute for Advanced Studies of Levantine Culture and Civilization.

Steluta Lucia Rodica Coposu, the youngest sister of former PNTCD leader Corneliu Coposu, who was also the president of the namesake Foundation, passed away on Thursday morning.

Born on September 26, 1932 in Bobota - Salaj County, Steluta Coposu graduated from the Polytechnic Institute in 1956. She worked for over three decades at the Power Studies and Design Institute in Bucharest. After the death of her brother, Corneliu Coposu, she contributed decisively to the establishment, in 1996, of the Foundation that bears his name.

In 2009, together with her sister Flavia Balescu-Coposu, she was decorated by His Majesty King Mihai I of Romania with the Cross of the Royal House of Romania, for her entire civic activity and devotion to the memory of their brother.