(Photo: Biden and his mother at last August's Democratic National Convention in Denver. By Paul J. Richards of AFP/Getty Images.)
SYMPATHIES — Vice President Joe Biden’s mother “passed away peacefully” Friday at Biden’s home in Delaware, the vice president said in a statement Friday:
“My mother, Catherine Eugenia “Jean” Finnegan Biden, passed away peacefully today at our home in Wilmington, Del., surrounded by her children, her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren and many loved ones. At 92, she was the center of our family and taught all of her children that family is to be treasured, loyalty is paramount and faith will guide you through the tough times. She believed in us and, because of that, we believed in ourselves. Together with my father, her husband of 61 years who passed away in 2002, we learned the dignity of hard work and that you are defined by your sense of honor. Her strength, which was immeasurable, will live on in all of us.”.
My absolute favorite part of Joe Biden’s convention speech.
You know, my mom taught her children — all the children who flocked to our house — that you’re defined by your sense of honor and you’re redeemed by your loyalty. She believes that bravery lives in every heart, and her expectation is that it will be summoned. Failure — failure at some point in your life is inevitable, but giving up is unforgivable.
As a child — as a child, I stuttered, and she lovingly would look at me and tell me, “Joey, it’s because you’re so bright you can’t get the thoughts out quickly enough.”
(LAUGHTER)
When I was not as well-dressed as the other kids, she’d look at me and say, “Joey, oh, you’re so handsome, honey, you’re so handsome.”
(LAUGHTER)
And when I got — when I got knocked down by guys bigger than me — and this is the God’s truth — she sent me back out and said, “Bloody their nose so you can walk down the street the next day.” And that’s what I did.
(APPLAUSE)
You know — and after the accident, she told me, she said, “Joey, God sends no cross that you cannot bear.” And when I triumphed, my mother was quick to remind me it was because of others.
My mother’s creed is the American creed: No one is better than you. Everyone is your equal, and everyone is equal to you.
via Transcript – Joseph R. Biden’s Convention Speech – Text – NYTimes.com.
Jean Biden nodded right along with Biden’s accounts of his childhood and turned to her left and said “That’s True”. So did many of us around the nation.