Last tribute to Rosa Bouglione, the matriarch of the circus

On the track to the stars of the Cirque d’hiver, family and friends said their last farewell to Rosa Bouglione, matriarch of the French circus who died on Sunday August 26 at the age of 107. Like the other members of the family, she was buried in Lizy-sur-Ourcq (Seine-et-Marne), this Wednesday.

Last farewell to Rosa Bouglione, matriarch of the most famous French circus family, who died on Sunday at the age of 107. According to circus tradition, a mass bringing together 400 people, family members, friends and artists, was celebrated by priests Dominique Auduc and Alain Pignel, circus chaplains, and Sergio, the famous Monsieur Loyal of the Bouglione circus, who became a deacon.

Alongside Rosa Bouglione’s family, made up of five generations (7 children, 55 grandchildren, great and great-great-grandchildren), Alexis Grüss Jr, Diana Moreno, Austrian Louis Knie Jr and Italian Flavio Togni, representatives of other great European circus dynasties, attended this religious tribute under the golds of the Cirque d’hiver transformed into a burning chapel.

Circus World Dean

Covered with red roses, the coffin of Rosa Bouglione who had married Joseph Bouglione in 1928, had been installed in the middle of the star track, surmounted by a giant black and white portrait of the world doyenne of the circus who began her career. with a serpentine dance number.

In 1934, Joseph and Rosa Bouglione acquired the Cirque d’hiver, still operated by their children. “Madame Rosa was the queen of the circus and created stars in the eyes of the public. Today she joins the love of her life, Joseph Bouglione”said in a message Father Bernard Bellanza, national chaplain of the circus and the craftsmen of the festival.

Burial in Seine-et-Marne in the family vault

Like all members of the family dynasty, Rosa Bouglione was to be buried Wednesday afternoon in Lizy-sur-Ourcq (Seine-et-Marne), in privacy.

Coming with a rose in hand to the Cirque d’hiver, David, 59, a neighbor, bowed to the catafalque. “I didn’t know her personally but she was a great lady of the circus, a legend”he told AFP.

According to tradition, the show continues: “Extra”, a new Bouglione show dedicated to “Madame Rosa”, will be on display at the Cirque d’Hiver on October 6th.