mericans may not know how to feel about the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, who liked to use the U.S. as a rhetorical punching bag. But for millions in Chavez's home country and throughout Latin America, the passing of the socialist leader is tantamount to losing a loved one. Scroll down to see how deeply devotees of the flamboyant leader are feeling the "immense pain of this historic tragedy." 

Caracas, Venezuela | March 5, 2013 (REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins) 

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Caracas, Venezuela | March 5, 2013 (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

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Caracas, Venezuela | March 5, 2013 (REUTERS/Jorge Silva)

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Caracas, Venezuela | March 6, 2013 (REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins)

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Quito, Ecuador | March 5, 2013 (Santiago Armas/Xinhua Press/Corbis)

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Caracas, Venezuela | March 5, 2013 (REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins)

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Caracas, Venezuela | March 6, 2013 (REUTERS/Jorge Silva)

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Mexico City, Mexico | March 5, 2013 (Pedro Mera/Xinhua Press/Corbis)

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Caracas, Venezuela | March 6, 2013 (REUTERS/Jorge Silva)

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Caracas, Venezuela | March 6, 2013 (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

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Caracas, Venezuela | March 5, 2013 (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) 

Lauren Hansen

Follow @mylaurenhansen

Lauren Hansen is the multimedia editor at TheWeek.com. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she started her career in arts publishing and has since worked at media outlets including the BBC and Frontline.