Elizabeth Edwards, who rose to national prominence as the wife of presidential candidate John Edwards, but will be remembered here as an author, mother and advocate for health care reform, died Tuesday morning at her home in Chapel Hill surrounded by friends and family.
Edwards, who used her own experience with cancer to educate and inspire others, had recently stopped treatments and her family announced over the weekend that she was in hospice. She was 61.
On her Facebook page Monday, she left the following note:
The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And yes, there are certainly times when we aren’t able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It’s called being human. But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful.”