The funeral Wednesday of Pietro Ferrero, the late chief executive officer of the Ferrero company, maker of Nutella chocolate spread, was officiated by the Vatican's second most senior clergy and attended by top political and business leaders including Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, DPA repported.
The 47-year-old Ferrero, who was sometimes dubbed by Italian media the "Nutella King," died on April 18 after suffering a heart-attack while cycling in South Africa.
Ferrero was heir to Italy's biggest industrial fortune - his father the chairman of Ferrero, Michele in 2011 was ranked 31st on Forbes' list of the world's billionaires, the highest position for any Italian.
"A man of enterprise who embodied the best qualities of our industrial history: creativity, adding value to work," Vatican Secretary of Sate Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone said during the funeral homily.
Berlusconi who was "described as a close family friend" in news reports, hugged the 84-year-old Michele. Media magnate Berlusconi in 2011 was listed as the third richest Italian by Forbes'.
The funeral was held in Alba, the Ferrero family's hometown situated in the northwestern Italian region of Piedmont. The Ferrero company which is also know for its Tic Tac mints and Ferrero Rocher chocolates, is headquartered in Alba.
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