Maggie Daley Dies Aged 68

Chicago’s former First Lady Maggie Daley passed away on Thursday at the age of 68. She was the wife of Richard M. Daley who served as Chicago’s mayor for 22 years.

Daley was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 and died after a nine year battle. She was surrounded by her husband and children when she died.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Chicago had "lost a warm and gracious first lady who contributed immeasurably to our city."

In a statement, Emanuel said: "While Mayor Daley served as the head of this city, Maggie was its heart," Emanuel said in a statement. "Of all her accomplishments, Maggie's most treasured role was as a wife, mother, and grandmother."

President Barack Obama released a statement that her efforts on behalf of the city's children "live on as national models for how to create environments for children to learn and grow outside the classroom."

Sen. Dick Durbin said Daley “had more friends than all of us combined” and remembers seeing her with her family last St. Patrick’s Day at Old St. Patrick’s Church, reported Chicago Sun-Times.

“The [Daley] kids and the grandkids were all dressed in green,” he said. “Her strength wasn’t what it was before, but the Shannon Rovers started up with the bagpipes and these kids all came over by her, and I looked over at her and Rich beaming with the kind of joy parents and grandparents live for. We’re going to miss her. She was a wonderful, caring, kind person.”