A Maine clergyman was one of the celebrants of former first lady Barbara Bush’s funeral in Texas on Saturday.
A program for the funeral shared by Houston TV stations listed the Rev. Dr. Peter Cheney as one of the celebrants. Cheney is the chaplain of St. Ann’s Episcopal Church in Kennebunkport, which the Bush family has attended for years while summering at their Walker’s Point compound. Barbara Bush died Tuesday in Houston at age 92.
Nearly 1,500 people were invited to the private funeral service, including U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, as well as former Sen. Olympia Snow and her husband, former Gov. John R. McKernan Jr. The three Mainers were included on a guest list of friends and dignitaries also invited to a smaller reception Saturday morning, according to Houston TV stations.
Collins, a Republican, was one of three sitting senators from outside Texas to be invited to the funeral. She traveled with first lady Melania Trump to Houston on Saturday. Collins first met Barbara Bush in 1994 when she was running for Maine governor, and the former first lady campaigned with her, according to News Center Maine (WCSH-WLBZ). She visited the Bushes at Walker’s Point every summer.
“The memorial service for Barbara Bush was touching,” Collins tweeted Saturday. “Beautiful liturgy, heartfelt funny tributes, and lots of grandchildren. Honored to have been there.”
Snowe also tweeted about the funeral Friday.
“Jock and I are honored to have been invited to attend Barbara’s funeral and pay tribute to our cherished friend and her extraordinary legacy of immeasurable contributions that will benefit generations of Mainers and Americans,” Snowe wrote.
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