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Public Memorial Set for Barack Obama's Beloved Grandmother
Thursday November 13, 2008

Barack Obama and Madelyn Dunham
Barack Obama is seen posing with his maternal grandmother Madelyn Dunham.
REUTERS/Obama For America/Landov

A memorial service will be held Friday for Barack Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Payne Dunham, who died of cancer at 86 two days before her grandson was elected president.

According to The Associated Press, the public ceremony will take place at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.

Though the Obama family will not be in attendance, Barack is scheduled to visit Hawaii in December to pay his respects to Dunham, who helped raise him.

See Barack Obama's family album.

It is unclear what arrangements have been made for Dunham's remains, according to The AP.

"She died peacefully in her sleep with my sister at her side," the President-elect said on the last day of his campaign. "So there is a great joy as well as tears."

Barack suspended his campaign to visit Dunham, whom he affectionately called "Toot." He said he had hoped she would have lived long enough to see him elected.

"She was one of those quiet heroes that we have all across America," Barack said of Dunham. "They're not famous, their names aren't in the newspapers, but each and every day they work hard. They look after their families. They sacrifice for their children and their grandchildren."

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