They just announced Joe's mom died. Here's a link to the DU thread:

[gateley]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=115883&mesg_id=115901

[jillan]

1. It's so heartbreaking.

[gateley]

2. I know Joe is numb. I remember being surprised after my mom died that

I felt -- or didn't feel -- that way (she was the first to go) since I knew it was coming. I think it's our brain/mind helping us to cope through the initial shock and lets the reality slowly seep in.

I remember reading years ago, when I was in my teens, in Reader's Digest that people who lost a spouse who had happy, healthy marriages, fared far better than those who had bad marriages (I'm guessing good memories, no guilt). At the time I realized that would probably apply to our relationships with our parents, too, so I'm grateful we became close in the last years. So I'm sure Joe will be more at peace than someone who had a contentious relationship with his mother.

He knows that she knows he loved her. That's pretty healing in itself.

I'm so sad, though. :(

[jillan]

3. I hope Joe will be at peace with her passing. And I hope she had no pain.

[PatSeg]

4. You make a good point

There is more peace of mind when someone dies if the relationship was sound and there are no regrets, unless of course the person dies very young.

I'm glad you were able to be close with your mother later in life.

[jillan]

5. How wonderful that Joe got home in time.

He's gotta be thankful for that.

[jillan]

6. Nice piece from abc

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/world-news-person-week-vice-president-joe-bidens/story?id=9516293&page=1