Michelle Obama will attend the funeral of Hadiya Pendleton.
WASHINGTON -- First lady Michelle Obama plans to attend Saturday’s funeral in Chicago for 15-year-old slaying victim Hadiya Pendleton, according to a White House official who asked not to be named.
Pendleton, an honor student at King College Prep, was fatally shot last week about a mile from the Obamas’ Kenwood home. A majorette with the school band, she had participated in inaugural festivities near Washington about a week before her death.
The first lady is not expected to make public remarks during her visit, and the Obamas’ daughters, Malia and Sasha, are not expected to accompany their mother.
Scheduled to speak at the funeral is Gov. Pat Quinn, who mentioned Pendleton during his annual State of the State speech on Wednesday as he called for tougher gun control measures. Quinn said he spoke to the teen’s family this week.
"There are no words in the English language, or any language, to relieve the pain of parents who lose a child," said Quinn, who has two adult sons.
The White House official who confirmed Michelle Obama’s plans said that senior adviser Valerie Jarrett and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will also attend the funeral. Both are Chicagoans.
Community activists had urged the Obamas to come to Chicago to speak out about recent violence. A petition on the White House website had called on the Obamas to attend Pendleton’s funeral.
The president reached out to the family last week to offer his condolences, according to people close to the family. Early on, the family had expressed concern that the president’s attendance would overshadow the funeral and make it difficult for Pendleton’s many friends to say their goodbyes to her.
After learning today that the first lady planned to attend, Shatira Wilks, a cousin who serves as the family’s spokesperson, said they are still committed to making the funeral a celebration of the teen’s life.
“It’s a nice gesture and we appreciate it,” Wilks said. “But that is who we are.”
Those close to the family said the parents are still trying to come to grips with what has happened.
“It’s a lot to take in. It’s an overwhelming experience,” said LaKeisha Stewart, Hadiya’s godmother. “We are very thankful the people are coming to support the family. We realize that this young lady has touched a lot of people and this goes beyond us.”
Pendleton was killed at Harsh Park on Jan. 29, near the end of the deadliest January for Chicago homicides in a decade. There is a $40,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in the teen’s death.
Visitation is scheduled for 2 to 9 p.m. Friday in Calahan Funeral Home at 7030 S. Halsted St. On Saturday, the wake continues at 9 a.m. followed by the funeral at 11 a.m. in Greater Harvest Baptist Church, 5141 S. State St.
Tribune reporters Katherine Skiba and Monique Garcia contributed to this report.
dglanton@tribune.com
khennessey@tribune.com
Michelle Obama to attend funeral for Hadiya Pendleton
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Michelle Obama to attend funeral for Hadiya Pendleton
