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Maria Franca Fissolo, Ferrero Matriarch, Dies at 87

Her recent elevation to honorary president for life capped a career devoted to Ferrero’s welfare-focused foundation.

Overview

  • She died on February 12 at around 5:30 a.m. in her home in Altavilla on the hills of Alba, according to local reports.
  • The funeral is scheduled for Saturday, February 14 at 3 p.m. in Alba’s Duomo, with a public viewing from February 13 at the Fondazione Ferrero.
  • Widow of Michele Ferrero and mother of current executive chairman Giovanni, she was unanimously named honorary president for life by Ferrero International on December 19.
  • For more than four decades she led the Piera, Pietro e Giovanni Ferrero Foundation, shaping a model of corporate welfare and backing local healthcare and cultural initiatives, including support for the Verduno hospital.
  • Tributes arrived from local authorities and national leaders, including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who praised her discretion and lasting contribution to Italian industry and community life.