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Sen. Edward Moore Kennedy, the youngest of the political Kennedy brothers, has died at age 77 shortly after receiving the anointing of the sick.The death was announced Wednesday morning in a statement by the Kennedy family.
"Edward M. Kennedy - the husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle we loved so deeply - died late Tuesday night at home in Hyannis Port," the statement said, Winston-Salem Journal reports.
"We've lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever.
"We thank everyone who gave him care and support over this last year, and everyone who stood with him for so many years in his tireless march for progress toward justice, fairness and opportunity for all.
"He loved this country and devoted his life to serving it. He always believed that our best days were still ahead, but it's hard to imagine any of them without him."
Known as the "liberal lion of the Senate," Kennedy championed health care reform, working wages and equal rights in his storied career, ABC reports.
In August, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom - the nation's highest civilian honor - by President Obama. His daughter, Kara Kennedy, accepted the award on his behalf.
Earlier, sources close to the family have confirmed that Kennedy, was anointed by a priest who administered the Sacrament to him at his bedside, Irish Central says.
Senator John McCain this week said the Senate was a tougher place without Kennedy.
"No person in that institution is indispensable," he said, "but Ted Kennedy comes as close to being indispensable as any individual I've ever known in the Senate because he had a unique way of sitting down with the parties at a table and making the right concessions."
McCain, who co-sponsored the ill-fated Kennedy/McCain immigration bill with Kennedy said the debate over health-care reform would likely be in a very different place today if Kennedy was present.
FULL STORY @
Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy dies (Winston-Salem Journal)
Ted Kennedy dies of brain cancer at age 77 (ABC)
Sen. Edward Kennedy receives Last Rites (Irish Central)
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Ted Kennedy (Wikipedia)