HYANNIS, Mass., Aug. 14, 2009

Ted Kennedy Absent at Sister's Funeral

Senator Battling Brain Cancer Will Not Attend Funeral for Eunice Kennedy Shriver

  • Play CBS Video Video Obama Honors Ted Kennedy

    President Obama presented the Medal of Freedom to Ted Kennedy's daughter, as the senator battles cancer. As Bill Plante reports, Obama modeled his career on the Kennedy family legacy.

  • In this April 21, 2009 file photo, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. is seen at the SEED School of Washington.

    In this April 21, 2009 file photo, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. is seen at the SEED School of Washington.  (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

(AP)  Sen. Edward Kennedy, who is battling brain cancer, will not attend the funeral Mass for his sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

A spokesman for the senator said Kennedy's wife, Vicki, would be in his place at the invitation-only funeral service Friday morning at St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church in Hyannis.

Among the invited guests are Vice President Joe Biden, Oprah Winfrey, Jon Bon Jovi, Stevie Wonder and Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.

Hundreds of people gathered outside the church before the service for Shriver, the founder of the Special Olympics who died Tuesday at age 88.

A mother and son who were both Special Olympians led the funeral procession carrying the Special Olympics torch.


© MMIX The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Share:
  • Share
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Mixx
Add a Comment See all 25 Comments
by credibility2 August 19, 2009 4:43 PM EDT
Although in frail health, Kennedy managed to cart himself to vote on certain pieces of legislation, but he couldn't or wouldn't do the same for his own sister? Even if he was on oxygen support, he should have been there. Very sad and disrespectful, to say the least.
Reply to this comment
by sunlover518 August 17, 2009 3:06 AM EDT
none of us is perfect. but at the least he committed manslaughter. he was drunk and drove off a bridge and killed a woman. have you ever done that, I havent. and the rest of us would have spent time in jail. think about if it was your sister or daughter morons
Reply to this comment
by sunlover518 August 17, 2009 3:03 AM EDT
yes he did attend Kopechne's funeral. after all he killed her
Reply to this comment
by platteman August 16, 2009 5:56 PM EDT
Guess we should feel sorry for a killer. Too bad he didn't go to Mary Jo's funrel. His staying out of jail for DUI and killing a woman shows just what money and influence will buy in MA. Had that happened to any average person, they would have been in jail.
As far as I am concerned, he can't die fast enough. He has already had more years of life than Mary Jo had.
Reply to this comment
by woeisme1 August 15, 2009 8:41 AM EDT
Ted Kennedy, in spite of Chappaquiddick, has spent his entire life as one of the most effective Senators in history. He is very well respected by politicians on BOTH sides of the aisle and has friends from all walks of life.

He has made mistakes true. But only a republican extremist, heartless and classless as they are, would post some of the hate garbage I see here.
Reply to this comment
by excoachken August 14, 2009 6:59 PM EDT
It simply amazing how people can demonize a man with brain cancer because of a 40 year old rumor. And you guys are the same people who consider yourselves to be religiously superior to the average American. Shame on you for attacking a sick person who is approching his own death. You Bible Bangers try to tell everybody else why their belief system is wrong, but you can't even follow the Golden Rule.
Reply to this comment
by HGOODGUY August 14, 2009 8:38 PM EDT
I AGREE WITH YOU AND ALSO HAPPEN TO BELIEVE THAT THE BIBLE BELONGS IN THE FICTION PART OF THE STORE!!
I AM NOT AN ATHIEST--I JUST REFUSE TO BE RULED BY ANYONE'S DOCTRINE.

IF THE BIBLE MAKES YOU HAPPY AND GIVES YOU PIECE OF MIND THEN MORE POWER TO YOU.

JUST DON'T THUMP IT ON ME!!!!
by cherokeedreamer August 16, 2009 5:12 PM EDT
40 year old rumor??? that was no rumor and there is plenty of evidence to support it. He was there and he left that girl alone to die. This story has dogged him most of his life since then and cost him the Presidency. I have compassion for him because he is dying of brain cancer, and for his family, but I have never forgotten Mary Jo Kopeckne~she missed out on the last 40 years didn't she because of his inaction?? I do think though he had tried to make that up with public service, but this will always be a stain on his honor.
That being said, the Kennedy family has paid with their dearest blood 3 times for the United States of America. Joe, Jack and Bobby. Eunice was lucky to live a long and productive life, and helped many thousands with Special Olympics.
Thank you Eunice for all you did for those kids..RIP
by noanobamalemming August 14, 2009 3:19 PM EDT
He should be in the coffin instead of his sister..
Reply to this comment
by eferrell2 August 14, 2009 1:51 PM EDT
What does going to a funeral have to do with family values? That is a stupid thing to say. Showing up at a funeral is no more a show of values than sitting in the garage makes you a car!
Reply to this comment
by speakinup22 August 14, 2009 1:49 PM EDT
Ted Kennedy has been mentally absent from Congress for a long time. That is to say his cancer obviously MUST be interfering with his ability to be effective.

The man won't even let someone else be the Senator in spite of being in a diminshed capacity. But, I guess that is the difference between a politician and a statesman.
Reply to this comment
by grabandgo August 14, 2009 1:38 PM EDT
f he can't function why is he still a senator?

whoops, silly question. That is why he is still alsenator.
Reply to this comment
by woeisme1 August 15, 2009 8:34 AM EDT
Spell much?
by donnerwetter August 14, 2009 1:35 PM EDT
A lot of low life in our society.
Reply to this comment
by HGOODGUY August 14, 2009 7:59 PM EDT
xlib
WHAT THE HELL DOES IT MATTER NOW AND WHO CARES????

GET A LIFE!!!
by HGOODGUY August 16, 2009 5:28 PM EDT
XLIB
YOU SHOULDN'T USE BIG WORDS THAT YOU DONT UNDERSTAND LIKE "ADDLED OR LEMMING"

MAYBE YOU SHOULD LET US ADULTS HANDLE THIS AND GO BACK TO NIGHTSCHOOL!!!
by HGOODGUY August 16, 2009 5:28 PM EDT
XLIB
YOU SHOULDN'T USE BIG WORDS THAT YOU DONT UNDERSTAND LIKE "ADDLED OR LEMMING"

MAYBE YOU SHOULD LET US ADULTS HANDLE THIS AND GO BACK TO NIGHTSCHOOL!!!
by hamiltongrad August 14, 2009 12:54 PM EDT
There is so little time, for one last full explanation interview. We need to know, and have a right to know, what happened that night. Please with respect, one last interview, so we can all move on. What good is it to keep everything inside ?
Reply to this comment
by HGOODGUY August 14, 2009 1:03 PM EDT
WHAT RIGHT DO YOU HAVE TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT AN INDISCRETION THAT HAPPENED YEARS AGO!!!!
YOU DON'T DESERVE TO KNOW CRAP!!!!

IF THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES FOR YOU TO "MOVE ON" YOU REALLY HAVE A PATHETIC LIFE!!!!
by xlib August 14, 2009 2:05 PM EDT
hgoodguy-so, leaving a young girl to drown in his car while he ran away to sober up is an indiscretion in your addled mind?? Wow, you are a faithful lemming.
by erasmus111 August 16, 2009 1:23 PM EDT
Shut up!
by sonofhaig August 14, 2009 11:24 AM EDT
I think Ted Kennedy is in worse shape than they're reporting. Politically, don't believe is anything he stands for, but feel bad for him nevertheless..... nobody deserves what he's going through.

Moral Crusader: Show some class. I'm no liberal, but dude, that isn't right.
Reply to this comment
by docpeter1953 August 14, 2009 12:32 PM EDT
Moral_crusader isn't a dude.

She is a troll that has been on these pages for a long time. She keeps getting reported and kicked off and has to have a new handle to sign back on. She has gone be many different names such as gop_4ever, gop_will_win, ms_premise, proud_churchgoer, gop_hockeymom, and many others.

Usually she is sort of humorous with her half-wit statements, but then she pulls off the ones like this one and .................................
by HGOODGUY August 14, 2009 11:18 AM EDT
WHATIN THE HELL IS THE MATTER WITH YOU!!!!

THE MAN HAS BRAIN CANCER YOU IDIOT!!!

NOW THAT I THINK OF IT---YOU PROBABLY HAVE A DIFFERENT KIND OF BRAIN CANCER---THE KIND THAT RENDERS YOU BRAIN DEAD FIRST
Reply to this comment
by the_majesty August 14, 2009 10:31 AM EDT
I know. Ted Kennedy is not perfect.
It is sad that he was not able to attend
His Sister's funeral. I'm sure his heart
was and is with Her.
Reply to this comment
See all 25 Comments
Latest News
News in Pictures
Scroll Left Scroll Right
Connect with CBS News

Stay connected with the CBS News using your favorite social networks and online news applications: