Large inheritance left for terminally ill discovered after 50 years in Spain

Feb 8, 2008 / 00:16 am

A fortune left by a Spanish woman for the Archdiocese of Valencia to create a foundation for the terminally ill has been discovered half a century after her death.

According to the online version of Las Provincias, it is not know why the executors of the will of Natalia Mendiola, who died in 1951, did not notify the Archdiocese about the fortune she left for the care of the terminally ill.

However, Church officials said that after they were notified of the facts, a foundation was established to carry out the last wishes of the Spanish woman.

Mendiola left a building and a home in Valencia for the use of the foundation.

The foundation will be directed by Cardinal Agustin Garcia-Gasco and the superior of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, in accord with the express wish of Mendiola.  Seven other people will on the board of trustees.

Officials said the foundation will work directly with institutions that “practice evangelical charity through the care of the infirm.”