Barack Obama's Grandma Passes Away

Copyright 2007 Bryan Bedder / Getty Images
Barack Obama announced Monday that his ailing grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has died. She was 86.

 

In a statement released to "The Insider," Obama and his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, say:

"It is with great sadness that we announce that our grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has died peacefully after a battle with cancer. She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility. She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances. She was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and left this world with the knowledge that her impact on all of us was meaningful and enduring. Our debt to her is beyond measure.

"Our family wants to thank all of those who sent flowers, cards, well-wishes, and prayers during this difficult time. It brought our grandmother and us great comfort. Our grandmother was a private woman, and we will respect her wish for a small private ceremony to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a donation to any worthy organization in search of a cure for cancer."

Obama, the Democratic nominee for president, took a break from his campaign last month to visit Dunham. Obama's campaign spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement at the time, "Senator Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has always been one of the most important people in his life. Along with his mother and his grandfather, she raised him in Hawaii from the time he was born until the moment he left for college. As he said at the Democratic Convention, she poured everything she had into him.”

Published 11/3/08 by the Insider

Comments (36)

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  • Obama are you going to invite your Kenyan grandma over to the whitehouse for the holidays? The grandma that saw you being born in Kenya! The least you could do would be to help her out a bit, spread some of your wealth around! Btw, would you stop...
    Anonymous 11/17/09 Reply
  • hey obama my name is abdio and i was just said hi good bye send me back at habdio@yahoo.com
    Anonymous 12/5/08 Reply
  • What ever happened to his grandma's funeral? Did they have it... or did he have "more important" things to do??
    Anonymous 11/21/08 Reply
  • oh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Anonymous 11/6/08 Reply
  • I know that though his grandmother has passed. She's smiling down at her grandson with a smile of great accomplishment. He made history; he is Americas 44th first black president!!! His name will go down in my History Book.
    GO OBAMA; WE BELIEVED IN...
    Anonymous 11/5/08 Reply
  • im so sorry for your grandma im happy you won
    Anonymous 11/5/08 Reply
  • wow what a great story im really sorry for what happened im so happy obama won the election we are gonna be changing.....
    Anonymous 11/5/08 Reply
  • His parents would have been so proud of him.what a loss that they didn't witness all this success:( sorry for grandma too.
    karomanah 11/5/08 Reply
  • Obama I am very sorry about your grandmo passaway,But you keep your head up becouse you are the winer of USA Next President Yeahh GOooo OBAMA Gooooo.
    Suzana Bajrami
    Anonymous 11/4/08 Reply
  • My deepest condolences to the Obama family. Mrs. Dunham seems like she was an extraordinary woman and she would have to be to have helped raise such a wonderful compassionate man.
    Anonymous 11/4/08 Reply
  • Obama will make one of the best Presidents yet. He will turn our Country around to the good. I want to be the first one to give him my congraduations now before the election count is over. To the best.
    Anonymous 11/4/08 Reply
  • Senator Barack Obama, Michelle and family: We were so sorry to hear about the passing of your beloved grandma. She was a true American working through WWII to benefit the war effort and thenworking her way up through to an escrow officer.I know you...
    Anonymous 11/4/08 Reply
  • You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. Remember Barack, your name says it all. Stay on the path that you are destined for. Only those with a relationship with Him understands and can identify one of His faithful servants.

    In Him
    Anonymous 11/4/08 Reply
  • HI MR.BARACK OBAMA MY NAME IS A'DAZJA-GAYE AND I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING YOU EVER SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN RUNNING UP FOR PRESIDENT BUT YOU ARE REALLY COOL AND IF YOU WIN I HOPE THE BEST FOR YOU AND MAY GOD BE WITH YOU LOVE YOURS TRUELY A'DAZJA-GAYE. YOU...
    Anonymous 11/4/08 Reply
  • My thoughts and prayers are with the Obama family in this difficult time. People go out and vote. I think that Obama would be a great President he has gone through some trying times lately and he manages to keep his composer.
    Anonymous 11/4/08 Reply