Drama included

Austria bids farewell to Richard Lugner

(Bild: Holl Reinhard)

With great public sympathy, Austria bid farewell to its most famous builder, Richard Lugner, on Saturday. After a solemn mass in St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, the society lion and "last gentleman" was buried in Grinzing in the closest family circle.

At 9 a.m. in the packed St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, cathedral priest Toni Faber celebrated a public memorial service for the deceased, which was also attended by the Third President of the National Council Norbert Hofer (FPÖ) and Family Minister Susanne Raab (ÖVP). "You were 'Mörtel' - a Viennese institution," said Hofer in his eulogy. 

Widow Simone on the sidelines
The family received the red coffin at the Giant's Gate before it was carried into the cathedral to be laid to rest. Daughter Jacqueline Lugner was accompanied by husband Leo Lugner and her mother Christina Lugner, the entrepreneur's ex-wife. A little drama on the side: Lugner's last wife, Simone Lugner, arrived 20 minutes after the laying out began and did not sit with the family in a pew.

Former companions such as Anastasia Sokol ("Katzi") and Nina Bruckner ("Bambi") were also present. Good friends, such as plastic surgeon Artur Worseg and his wife Kristina or astrologer Gerda Rogers, also attended the funeral service. For Rogers, he was "the last gentleman".

Heinz-Christian Strache, Johann Gudenus and Peter Westenthaler also expressed their grief and reminisced in the krone.tv interview.

At Lugner's request, his legendary opera ball top hat was placed on his coffin. In front of it was a large heart made of red roses. The coffin was flanked by the bodyguards who had already accompanied Lugner at the Opera Ball. 

Richard Lugner's red coffin was adorned with his top hat.

(Bild: Holl Reinhard/Reinhard Holl)

Opera and Lugner City once again
At the end of the funeral service at 10 a.m., the coffin was carried out of the cathedral via the giant gate to the sound of the fan polonaise - in reference to the Opera Ball. In front of the church, the former court orchestra of the master builder, the Hoch- und Deutschmeister, played the Radetzky March for the deceased.

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Afterwards, the motorcade with the coffin drove to the State Opera and Lugner City. The actual funeral finally took place in the early afternoon in a crypt at the Grinzing cemetery in the closest circle of family and friends after a funeral service in the Kaasgraben church.

Lugner leaves a huge gap on the society scene in Vienna. The Opera Ball will not be the same without him ...

Richard Lugner died on August 12 in his villa in Vienna-Döbling at the age of 91. He had previously struggled with health problems on several occasions and most recently had to undergo a serious heart operation.