Video: Venezuelans pay their respects as Hugo Chavez lies in state Chavez's body arrived at the military academy in Caracas after a seven-hour procession through the streets of the city. His family and close advisers, as well as the presidents of Argentina, Bolivia and Uruguay, attended a funeral Mass next to his open coffin. Outside, thousands of Venezuelans waited patiently for the chance to pay their last respects to their late leader, who died on Tuesday. I feel bad because he was a loved one. My family and I really loved the President. Because if it wasn't for him, we wouldn't be living here in a decent apartment," said supporter Jose Lopez Perez.