The heiress of a flour manufacturer in Spain has left her entire fortune worth millions of euros to helping students in her village.
Virginia Pérez Buendía, 86 when she died, gave her legacy to a fund which will give grants to students from the village of Valverde de Júcar (pop 1,350), in the central region of Castile-La Mancha.
She never married and had no children. The local priest described her as “bohemian”, others as a “loner”. The local villagers said they were aware that she was well-heeled, but had no idea she would leave her money to benefit the village.
Father Triguero said that until the foundation to make the grants has been legally constituted, it is impossible to know the extent of her fortune, which includes stocks and shares as well as property. But the legacy is expected to be worth millions, with 10% of it to be reinvested for long-term benefits.
The priest, the village mayor and local justice of the peace are executors of her will.
Buendía spent her time at a residence for the elderly, her flat in Madrid near the Prado museum, and one of the houses she owned in the village.
She appears to have died alone at the Madrid flat with the priest saying that her body was not discovered for six weeks.
"There were very few people at the funeral," he said. "We thought she must be at the residence, but eventually the men who work her land started calling and got no answer anywhere."
University students who are eligible for government grants in Castile-La Mancha currently receive €2,835 per year.
