A photo gallery spans the career of Elizabeth Edwards. She succumbed to cancer at the age 61.
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— Elizabeth Edwards, born in 1949 in Jacksonville, Fla., died Dec. 7, at her home in Chapel Hill, N.C., after battling cancer. She was 61. Here, she is seen with her daughter Cate, son Jack, daughter Emma, and her husband, Sen. John Edwards, while he was running for vice-president in 2004.
Elizabeth Edwards, born in 1949 in Jacksonville, Fla., died Dec. 7, at her home in Chapel Hill, N.C., after battling cancer. She was 61. Here, she is seen with her daughter Cate, son Jack, daughter Emma, and her husband, Sen. John Edwards, while he was running for vice-president in 2004.
Mario Tama / Getty Images
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— Throughout her life, Edwards wrote publicly about her struggles, including the death of her teenage son, and her failed marriage to Sen. John Edwards. Here, she is greeted by the Democratic National Convention in Boston, in July 2004.
Throughout her life, Edwards wrote publicly about her struggles, including the death of her teenage son, and her failed marriage to Sen. John Edwards. Here, she is greeted by the Democratic National Convention in Boston, in July 2004.
Paul J. Richards / AFP/Getty Images
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— Edwards is seen in this 2004 photo with her family, as well as Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry, his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry and their son, Chris Heinz.
Edwards is seen in this 2004 photo with her family, as well as Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry, his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry and their son, Chris Heinz.
Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
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— Edwards shares a 27th anniversary lunch with her husband John at a Wendy's restaurant in Newburgh, NY, during the 2004 "Believe in America" bus and train tour. Each year, the couple returned to Wendy's on their anniversary to remember their early days together.
Edwards shares a 27th anniversary lunch with her husband John at a Wendy's restaurant in Newburgh, NY, during the 2004 "Believe in America" bus and train tour. Each year, the couple returned to Wendy's on their anniversary to remember their early days together.
Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
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— Edwards stands with Sen. Hillary Clinton during a Kerry/Edwards breakfast reception in New York in 2004.
Edwards stands with Sen. Hillary Clinton during a Kerry/Edwards breakfast reception in New York in 2004.
Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
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— Elizabeth and John Edwards were married July 30, 1977. She used her maiden name of Elizabeth Anania until she retired from practicing law in 1996.
Elizabeth and John Edwards were married July 30, 1977. She used her maiden name of Elizabeth Anania until she retired from practicing law in 1996.
/ Edwards Family via AP
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— John and Elizabeth met as law students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Here, John kisses her good-bye as she departs for a fund-raiser for the South Carolina Democratic Party in Columbia, S.C. in 2007.
John and Elizabeth met as law students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Here, John kisses her good-bye as she departs for a fund-raiser for the South Carolina Democratic Party in Columbia, S.C. in 2007.
Stan Honda / AFP/Getty Images
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— Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards hugs his wife Elizabeth while they speak about her recurrence of cancer during a news conference in Chapel Hill, N.C., in March 2007.
Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards hugs his wife Elizabeth while they speak about her recurrence of cancer during a news conference in Chapel Hill, N.C., in March 2007.
Gerry Broome / AP
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— Edwards poses with Lori Burgess of Niche Media (left) and publisher Paige Bishop at the Capitol File celebration for Edwards' new book, Saving Graces, on Oct. 6, 2006, in Washington.
Edwards poses with Lori Burgess of Niche Media (left) and publisher Paige Bishop at the Capitol File celebration for Edwards' new book, Saving Graces, on Oct. 6, 2006, in Washington.
Nancy Ostertag / Getty Images
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— Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama greets Elizabeth Edwards before the Des Moines Register debate in Johnston, Iowa, Dec. 13, 2007.
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama greets Elizabeth Edwards before the Des Moines Register debate in Johnston, Iowa, Dec. 13, 2007.
Charlie Neibergall / AP
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— Edwards smiles during a speech at the Planned Parenthood Action Fund conference in Washington, on July, 17, 2007.
Edwards smiles during a speech at the Planned Parenthood Action Fund conference in Washington, on July, 17, 2007.
Yuri Gripas / AFP/Getty Images
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— Edwards hugs son Jack onstage after he was too embarrassed to talk in Ames, Iowa, Jan. 1, 2008.
Edwards hugs son Jack onstage after he was too embarrassed to talk in Ames, Iowa, Jan. 1, 2008.
Paul Sancya / AP
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— New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine and Edwards talk before testifying in Washington, D.C., about health care reform, Sept. 18, 2008.
New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine and Edwards talk before testifying in Washington, D.C., about health care reform, Sept. 18, 2008.
Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
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— Edwards, Lisa Niemi, Maria Shriver and Susan Saint James participate in a panel discussion at the 2009 Women's Conference on October 27, 2009, in Long Beach, Calif.
Edwards, Lisa Niemi, Maria Shriver and Susan Saint James participate in a panel discussion at the 2009 Women's Conference on October 27, 2009, in Long Beach, Calif.
Toby Canham / Getty Images
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— Elizabeth Edwards was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. Here, she speaks with fellow witness Kerry Burns prior to testifying on medical debt and bankruptcy on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 20, 2009.
Elizabeth Edwards was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. Here, she speaks with fellow witness Kerry Burns prior to testifying on medical debt and bankruptcy on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 20, 2009.
Saul Loeb / AFP/Getty Images
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— Edwards spoke openly about having cancer, and after her husband confessed to an affair, she went on the talk-show circuit. Here she arrives at the Stand Up To Cancer event held at Sony Pictures Studios on Sept. 10 in Culver City, Calif.
Edwards spoke openly about having cancer, and after her husband confessed to an affair, she went on the talk-show circuit. Here she arrives at the Stand Up To Cancer event held at Sony Pictures Studios on Sept. 10 in Culver City, Calif.
Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images
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— "Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it's less good than the one you had before," said Edwards. Here, she watches her husband speak to voters at a town hall style meeting in Davenport, Iowa, in December 2007.
"Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it's less good than the one you had before," said Edwards. Here, she watches her husband speak to voters at a town hall style meeting in Davenport, Iowa, in December 2007.
Scott Olson / Getty Images