By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, April 18: Following the death of former first lady of United States Barbara Bush on Tuesday, Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama who is a close friend of President George W. Bush, has offered condolences over the passing away of his mother.
The former first lady, the wife of President George H.W. Bush suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure. A family spokesman said in a 15 April statement, “Following a recent series of hospitalizations, and after consulting her family and doctors, Mrs. Bush has decided not to seek additional medical treatment and will instead focus on comfort care.” Mrs. Bush passed away two days later aged 92.
In a letter by the Tibetan leader to his friend President Bush, it stated, “I am sorry to learn about your mother’s passing away. I offer my prayers for her and my condolences to you and your family at this sad time.
“To have lived more than 92 years is truly admirable. We can rejoice in the fact that she lived a meaningful life. Not only was she the wife of a serving President, but also in due course the mother of another President of the United States of America. At the same time, her work to encourage and support literacy will live on long after her.”
Barbara Bush, in addition to being the first lady of America, was also the second lady as well as the mother of a US President. She is dubbed “the enforcer” by her family and was regarded as the matriarch of the Bush family. Barbara and George Sr. had six children, two of whom are recognized US politicians.
She is known most for her work to promote universal literacy through the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.
