Last month, John Hager, father-in-law to Jenna Bush Hager and father to and the former Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, passed away. On Monday morning, Bush Hager shared the touching eulogy her husband Henry gave in his dad's honor this past weekend to her co-host, Hoda Kotb.
"I went down [to Virginia] for 24 hours to celebrate my father-in-law's life, it was really beautiful. It was just the five of us—my mother-in-law, Maggie, Henry, and his brother Jack and Katharine, his wife and me. At first I thought how sad, because this man knew a lot of people and he liked people a lot, but the fact that it was just us at the cemetery, outdoors, with a reverend who knew him felt really intimate and lovely and peaceful," Bush Hager said.
Visibly emotional, Bush Hager continued: "Henry gave a beautiful, beautiful eulogy, where he said, 'now his hands are no longer in pain, his arms are no longer in pain, and he's standing six-foot-five-inches tall, smiling down,'" Bush Hager said. "I was so proud of my husband in that moment. Any of y'all who have celebrated, you know it's not the funerals we may want or the weddings, celebrations, but I think it's all about being with family and celebrating life, so I was happy to be able to do that."
Kotb, ever insightful, commented, "It takes such courage...I was just thinking the passing of someone who meant everything to you, to stand up." It certainly does.
"[Henry] said 'my dad was my hero, most of us don't have heroes," Bush Hager interjected. "His cape was hard to see behind his wheelchair, but I was always watching,' in his eulogy, it was one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard and I was so, so proud of him."
"He was nervous and he definitely choked up, but I said, 'of course you did and it's about sharing your love." You can view the full clip below.
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We're extending our condolences during this difficult time for the Bush Hager family. We hope the serene memories from laying John Hager to rest are a solace for the family right now.
