RALEIGH, N.C. — Elizabeth Edwards was laid to rest Saturday during an emotional funeral service held in Raleigh, N.C.
Hundreds gathered at the Edenton Street United Methodist Church to remember Edwards, who died Tuesday at age 61 after a six-year battle with breast cancer.
Her estranged husband, former presidential candidate John Edwards, did not speak at the funeral. He sat alongside the couple’s three children — Cate, 28, Emma Claire, 12, and Jack, 10.
One of the day’s more emotional moments came when Cate remembered her mother with an emotional eulogy.
"She’s been a lighthouse to all of us — a point of guidance when we all feel lost," she said.
The funeral was held at the same location where Elizabeth and John mourned the tragic loss of their first son, Wade, who died in 1996 at age 16 in a car accident.
In a farewell message posted on her Facebook page, Edwards expressed her love for everyone who had supported her over the years.
"You all know that I have been sustained throughout my life by three saving graces – my family, my friends, and a faith in the power of resilience and hope," she began. "These graces have carried me through difficult times and they have brought more joy to the good times than I ever could have imagined."
"The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that," continued Edwards. "And, yes, there are certainly times when we aren’t able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It’s called being human. But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful."
She ended, "It isn’t possible to put into words the love and gratitude I feel to everyone who has and continues to support and inspire me every day. To you I simply say: you know. With love, Elizabeth."
Edwards was first diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2004.
Watch the Elizabeth Edwards funeral below:
