John McCain's 106-Year-Old Mother Roberta Will Attend His Funeral
This morning, John McCain's family and his colleagues in Congress gathered at the National Cathedral for the funeral of the late Senator. His wife and children accompanied him into the Cathedral, as did his 106-year-old mother, Roberta McCain.
Many of them also attended the services yesterday in the Capitol rotunda, including political leaders like Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, and Vice President Mike Pence.
According to the New York Times, Roberta "once said her son liked to hold her up as an example of 'what he hopes his lifespan will be.'"
But unfortunately, today she mourns her own child, who died of brain cancer last Saturday at the age of 81. Roberta will also reportedly attend the memorial service at the National Cathedral tomorrow, and McCain's burial in Annapolis.
In many ways it took a maverick to raise one.
When she was just 19 years old, Roberta eloped with 20-year-old Ensign Jack McCain in Tijuana, beginning her life as a Navy wife. She did not serve in the military herself, but intimately knows the definition of duty to one's country.
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During a 2012 interview with Town & Country, she proudly shared that "there has been a McCain in uniform without interruption for 151 years," a tradition which continues today.
And despite her son's time as a POW she still believes that "the Navy epitomizes everything that's good in America."
A friend of Roberta's told People that she was her son's “biggest supporter and the leader of his fan club.”
“She was incredibly proud of him,” the source said. “His mommy loved him. He knew that.”
At today's event, Roberta was seen comforting her granddaughter, Meghan McCain. See a few photos from the service below:
Roberta McCain arrives at the rotunda:
Roberta comforts her granddaughter Meghan McCain:
Roberta McCain pays her respects to her late son.
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