Post Updated: Monday, October 26, 2026
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has lived a life marked by political triumphs, personal losses, and three marriages. When people search for “Lula da Silva ex wife,” they are usually looking for information about Marisa Letícia Lula da Silva, the woman who stood beside him for more than four decades and served as First Lady from 2003 to 2011. He was also married once before her. Both of his previous wives have passed away, and he is currently married to Rosângela “Janja” Lula da Silva.
Here is a clear, up-to-date look at the women who shared his life before his present marriage.
Table of Contents
Maria de Lourdes: Lula’s First Wife
Lula’s first marriage was to Maria de Lourdes Ribeiro (sometimes referred to as Maria de Lourdes da Silva). They married in 1969 in a simple ceremony. At the time, Lula was a young metalworker. Maria de Lourdes died in 1971 from complications related to hepatitis while she was pregnant. The child also did not survive. This early loss left Lula a young widower and shaped the quiet resilience that later became part of his public image.
Marisa Letícia Lula da Silva: The Longtime Companion and Former First Lady
Marisa Letícia Casa was born on April 7, 1950, in São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, into a family of Italian immigrant roots. She worked in a chocolate factory as a teenager. In 1970 she married Marcos Cláudio dos Santos; he was killed in a robbery the following year while she was pregnant with their son, Marcos.
In 1973 she met Lula at the metalworkers’ union office while seeking paperwork related to her widow’s pension. They married on May 25, 1974. Lula later adopted her son, and the couple had three more sons together: Fábio Luís, Sandro Luís, and Luís Cláudio. Marisa also helped raise Lula’s daughter Lurian from an earlier relationship.
Marisa became an activist in her own right. She supported the major strikes of the late 1970s, sewed the first flag of the Workers’ Party (PT), and organized women during difficult political times under the military regime. When Lula became president in 2003, she served as First Lady until 2011. She preferred a relatively private role but remained a steady presence and trusted advisor.
Marisa suffered a stroke in late January 2017 and died on February 3, 2017, at age 66. Lula later described her as “Brazil’s eternal first lady.”
Key Facts About Lula’s Wives
Name Relationship to Lula Years Together Notable Details Status Maria de Lourdes First wife 1969–1971 Died during pregnancy Deceased (1971) Marisa Letícia Second wife / First Lady 1974–2017 Activist, mother of four (including stepson) Deceased (2017) Rosângela “Janja” Current wife / First Lady Married 2022–present Sociologist, PT member since age 17 Alive, First Lady
Life After Marisa and the Current Chapter
After Marisa’s death, Lula began a relationship with Rosângela da Silva, known as Janja, a sociologist and longtime PT activist born in 1966. They started dating around 2017–2018, stayed connected during Lula’s imprisonment, and married on May 18, 2022. Janja became First Lady in January 2023 and continues in the role following Lula’s re-election in October 2026.
Key points that often surprise readers:
- Lula has been widowed twice.
- He and Marisa built a family that included both biological and adopted children.
- Marisa played an active, if understated, role in the early days of the PT and the labor movement.
- Janja is 21 years younger than Lula and has brought a more visible, socially engaged style to the First Lady role.
Conclusion
Lula da Silva’s personal life reflects the same mix of hardship, loyalty, and resilience that defined his political journey. His first wife, Maria de Lourdes, shared only a brief chapter that ended in tragedy. Marisa Letícia became the central partner of his adult life—partner in activism, mother of his children, and First Lady during his first two terms. Her death in 2017 closed a 43-year chapter. Today he is married to Janja, who continues as First Lady in 2026.
Understanding these relationships offers a fuller picture of the man behind one of Latin America’s most enduring political figures. For those interested in precise technical standards and calibration services that support reliable measurement systems, resources such as gmdcalibration.in provide specialized expertise.