Former US first lady Nancy Reagan said an emotional goodbye to ex-president Ronald Reagan, at a private family funeral held two days after the statesman's death at the age of 93.
The 82-year-old widow, with tears in her eyes, leaned on her equally affected daughter Patti Davis throughout the moving ceremony, which took place at the Ronald Reagan Library in California, where the former president is currently lying in state. Just 12 friends and family members attended, including Michael Reagan, Ronald's son with his first wife, Jane Wyman, and younger son Ron Reagan, Jr.
After the eulogy, Mrs Reagan laid her cheek against the flag-draped coffin and whispered final words to her husband of 52 years, who passed away on Saturday from pneumonia, a complication of the Alzheimer's disease from which he had suffered for a decade.
Later, thousands queued to pay their respects to the late world leader, including California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife Maria Shriver, of the Kennedy clan.
On Wednesday, Reagan's coffin will be taken to Washington DC, where he will continue lying in state for the remainder of the week. A state funeral service will be held on Friday, with former President George HW Bush and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher expected to deliver eulogies.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
