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Elizabeth Edwards' Daughter, Cate, Gave Her Mom a Final Gift

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Days before she died, Elizabeth Edwards was thrilled to hear the news from her daughter, Cate Edwards, that she had become engaged to her longtime boyfriend, Trevor Upham.

People magazine is reporting the Cate, 28, told her mother the couple made the decision over the Thanksgiving weekend in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Cate Edwards delivered the eulogy this afternoon at her mother's funeral service at the Edenton Street United Methodist Church in Raleigh, N.C., and Upham is a pallbearer. Click play below to watch a video feed of the service from the Raleigh, N.C. TV station WRAL:


Mrs. Edwards, wife of former senator and presidential candidate John Edwards, died Tuesday of breast cancer at age 61. She was widely admired for her courage in the face of many personal losses, including her son's death, her six-year battle with cancer, and her husband's brazen infidelity.

An estimated 1,200 people, including Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and all of the North Carolina Democratic congressional delegation, attended the service. John Edwards was there but did not speak.

In her eulogy, Cate Edwards described her mother as "a lighthouse to all" and said she comforted those around her as she lay dying. At her bedside, John Edwards and Cate Edwards each held her hand, and even though she was barely able to speak, Elizabeth Edwards looked back and forth at the two of them and repeated, "I'm OK. I'm OK," Cate Edwards said.

"She was way more worried about us than we were about her," she said.

Mrs. Edwards will be buried in Historic Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh next to her late son, Wade Edwards, who died in 1996 at age 16 in a car accident.

A handful of protesters from the extremist Westboro Baptist Church stationed themselves about two blocks from the church with signs condemning homosexuality. Members of the Kansas-based church rallied against Edwards because she supported equal rights for gays. But counter-protesters outnumbered the Westboro church members, CNN reported.

WRAL on Saturday morning posted this report:


Cate Edwards met her fiance when both were students at Princeton University.

People magazine reported that Upham, a physician who was a year ahead of Cate at school, often helped Elizabeth Edwards dissect the medical information she got from her oncologist.

Cate is an an anti-discrimination lawyer in Washington.
Filed Under: Elizabeth Edwards

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22 Comments

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dc walker

...........I listened to her friend's memories of the two of them in college...which I thought were very touching and showed the essence of this woman that I never heard anywhere else. When friends stay with you for years you know you touched their lives, RIP Elizabeth.

December 12 2010 at 2:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
DONNA

Thank You WARL for sharing this beautyfull tribute to Mrs,Edwards.Elizabeth would be pleased with your efforts. She so gracefully proved to me over the years "That even the impossible could be fun and substain you through the tough times." May God Bless and thank you for being in my life. Donna Labas

December 12 2010 at 4:19 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
maryredwing

Sleep well Elizabeth. My sincere sympathy to all of your family. MaryRedwing

December 11 2010 at 7:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
flyingfortresb17

TO the Edwards family: May God give you peace.

December 11 2010 at 7:07 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
EVALENA

To John and all the Edward Family, God Be with You'll ;If you except Jesus as your Personal savior you shall see you beloved wife and mother again my prayers are with you'll today. May God bless and keep you always.

December 11 2010 at 6:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
querida9

RIP Mrs. Edwards. No one will know the strength and courage you faced during these last few years. You looked at death straight in the eyes and said "I'll always be here. You'll never take me away". And you will be here always. We will always remember you for your ways, your courage, your outspokennes. Thank you. You already are at peace.

December 11 2010 at 6:51 PM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
judygrad

WHAT A REMARKABLE WOMAN SHE WAS. I HOPE I CAN BE AS ENCOURAGING TO MY CHILDREN WHEN MY TIME COMES. SHE LEFT A LEGACY THAT WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR ALWAYS. YOU FOUGHT A BATTLE FOR YOUR LIFE AND THE LIFE OF YOUR CHILDREN. YOU STOOD TALL WHEN LIFE THREW A PUNCH. GOD BLESS YOU ELIZABETH JUDYANN JOHNSON

December 11 2010 at 5:38 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
musctab

Two days after the death of this great, strong and a very classy lady, another lady's has also passed on. My mother-in-law with whom I have admired and adored as she too was a woman of grace with a lot of class. These two women have touched my life and they will be missed. R.I.P.

December 11 2010 at 4:14 PM Report abuse +6 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to musctab's comment
Kathleen

Very touching message - life is a sacred mystery and you have been blessed recognize the beauty and grace in the people around you.

December 11 2010 at 5:32 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
sylviadody

RIP Elizabeth. Heaven must be marvelous at Christmas..and you are with your Wade. Amen.

December 11 2010 at 4:01 PM Report abuse +6 rate up rate down Reply
kathyrn5k

These protesters are not Christians..to protest at a funeral does not exemplify what we should live...God Bless you Elizabeth and may all the Angels and Saints greetyou with open arms!

December 11 2010 at 3:56 PM Report abuse +10 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to kathyrn5k's comment
jessnsc1

I totally agree God Bless You Elizabeth You will be missed

December 11 2010 at 4:31 PM Report abuse +5 rate up rate down Reply

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