President Joe Biden Returns to Scranton to Pay Respects To Ellen Casey

President Joe Biden's motorcade passes under a sign for the Joe Biden Expressway as he travels from Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport to St. Peter’s Cathedral for the memorial service of former first lady of Pennsylvania Ellen Casey on Thursday, August 17, 2023, in Scranton, Pennsylvania (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz).

Joe Biden has been a close friend and proponent of Ellen Casey and her family.

Article by Dean Millard, Junior White House Correspondent

SCRANTON, Pa. - On Thursday, August 17th, 2023, President Joe Biden visited Scranton, Pennsylvania to pay his respects to United States Senator Bob Casey following the death of his mother, former Pennsylvania first lady Ellen Casey.

Ellen Casey died a week prior to President Biden’s visit to his hometown at the age of 91. Biden emphasized the relationship he developed with Ellen Casey, saying “every time I’d go to Scranton over the years, I’d stop and see her. She was a friend.”

Casey passed away at Regional Hospital in Scranton after battling an abrupt illness. However, her family has not stated her cause of death. Casey previously lost her husband, Robert P. Casey, in 2000.

Before and after his flight to Scranton, “Biden said Ellen Casey was an honorable and decent woman,” according to The Associated Press. President Biden privately visited the Casey family at St. Peter’s Cathedral before visiting hours, arriving shortly after 1 pm.

President Biden landed in Wilkes-Barre-Scranton International Airport right after 12 pm on Thursday, August 17th. He traveled around Scranton in his motorcade to privately revisit his hometown and commemorate the life of Ellen Casey. He spent approximately 45 minutes with the Casey family to mourn their loss. Although her funeral was scheduled for Friday, August 18th, 2023, President Biden was unable to attend because of a summit previously scheduled at Camp David.

Despite his scheduling constraints, President Biden highlighted how important it was for him to visit Scranton in honor of Casey, saying “I just want to show my respect to the family.” He praised the esteemed first lady for the “enormous role” she played in his life and the lives of countless others. President Biden also acknowledged how “her values were amazing.”