RALEIGH, North Carolina – Hundreds of family and friends gathered yesterday to honour the life of Elizabeth Edwards, who has been praised for her strength amid a series of life tragedies that included the death of a son, a betrayal by her husband and a battle with cancer that eventually led to her death.
A funeral for Edwards was held yesterday afternoon at Edenton Street United Methodist, a Raleigh church that Edwards turned to after her 16-year-old son Wade died in a car crash in 1996.
The memorial brought several political figures, including Senator John Kerry, who led the Democratic presidential ticket in 2004 that included John Edwards and North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue.
Vicki Kennedy, wife of late Senator Ted Kennedy, and United States Senator Kay Hagan of North Carolina were also expected to attend.
Edwards’ oldest daughter, 28-year-old Cate, was scheduled to give a eulogy along with two of her mother’s long-time friends, Hargrave McElroy and Glenn Bergenfield. John Edwards was not scheduled to speak.
The couple had four children together, including 12-year-old Emma Claire and ten-year-old Jack. (AP)
