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Former First Lady Barbara Bush To Be Laid To Rest Saturday

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HOUSTON (CBSMiami) - The nation is remembering former First Lady Barbara Bush.

The wife of the 41st President and mother of the 43rd passed away Tuesday, at the age of 92, surrounded by family at her Houston home. She had suffered from COPD and heart failure in recent years.

A private viewing, for close friends and family, will take place Wednesday and Thursday at the George Lewis Funeral Home in Houston. Mrs. Bush will lie in repose at Saint Martin's Church in Houston on Friday. The event will be open to the public.

She will be laid to rest Saturday on the grounds of the George Bush Presidential Library next to her daughter, Robin, who died of Leukemia as a child. The funeral service is by invitation only at the Bush family's church. First Lady Melania Trump plans to pay her respects at the funeral. The White House has not said if President Trump will attend.

"The entire country, especially the city of Houston Texas is going to be grieving for a long time because she is such a presence," said Lindy Neuhause.

Neuhause has been a neighbor and friends with George and Barbara Bush for decades.

"She had a wonderful sense of humor. She was such a lady, just the ultimate lady. And she just was so kind and compassionate. I always think if the world could be full of Barbara Bushes the world would be a much better place."

As First Lady, Barbara Bush took up the cause of child and adult literacy.

But it was her role as the mother of six and wife of former President George H.W. Bush that was most important to her.

"I'm the mother of wonderful children and the wife of the world's greatest man," she said.

A family spokesman took to Twitter Tuesday writing her husband to whom she was married for 73 years,"...held her hand all day...and was at her side" when she died.

Her son, George W. Bush wrote, "our souls are settled because we know hers was."

The Bush's have called Houston home for decades. Neighbors have been leaving flowers and notes here at their residence as a tribute to the former first lady.

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