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Hundreds Attend Bedford Funeral for Mary Kennedy

BEDFORD, N.Y. – Celebrities and Kennedy family admirers were among the hundreds who turned out Saturday at St. Patrick's Church in Bedford to pay their last respects to Mary Richardson Kennedy, who died Wednesday after apparently hanging herself in a barn behind her home at 326 Bedford Road.

Her four children, ages 11 to 17, helped carry their 52-year-old mother's casket to the hearse following the two-hour funeral service. Many well-known Kennedy family members were in attendance, including Ethel, Caroline, Joseph and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who had filed for divorce from his wife in 2010.

Kerry Kennedy, Mary's sister-in-law and former wife of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, met Mary at a boarding school as teenagers, and they remained best friends.

"She had friends all around the globe, real deep, rich friendships," Kerry Kennedy told the throng of media that were kept across from the church. "She was brilliant and she was beautiful. She just lived life to the fullest."

Kerry Kennedy said Mary suffered from depression and was deeply devoted to her children.

"She loved her children more than anything else," Kerry Kennedy said. "She was battling those demons and keeping them out of her paradise. It's a disease that so many Americans suffer from. She was an angel that was brought to live with us on Earth, and God has brought her back to heaven."

Celebrities at the service included Glenn Close, Susan Sarandon, Chevy Chase, Robert Klein, Dan Akroyd, John McEnroe, Larry David and Edward James Olmos.

Robert Pintabona traveled 30 miles from Connecticut to witness the funeral.

"I'm one of those people," he said. "I was always curious about the Kennedys, being that they are the closest thing America has to royalty. This is tragic and sad. I feel so bad for the kids. She seemed like a sweet girl. She was probably put into that position. She was just a victim of another Kennedy marriage."

Frank McGrath of Mount Kisco often attends Mass at St. Patrick's Church and has seen Robert F. Kennedy Jr. there.

"I have followed the Kennedys over the years. My heart goes out to the family. How much can you take?" he said. "Some people say the Kennedys have a curse. I didn't believe it at first, but now I'm wondering. It's year after year."

Dezil Hall of Mount Kisco said he used to work at a service station where Mary Kennedy brought her car. He also drove an activity bus for Fox Lane High School and would often drop one of her sons off at their home.

"She was nice. She didn't talk too much," Hall said. "You just knew she was a Kennedy and that's it."

Mary Richardson Kennedy, who grew up in Hoboken, N.J., is scheduled to be buried in Cape Cod, Mass., near the Kennedy compound.

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