Elizabeth Edwards Dies of Cancer at 61

Elizabeth Edwards died after a long battle with breast cancer at age 61 Tuesday. She was at her home surrounded by her family, according to ABC.

 On Monday, Edwards, who was married to former Presidential candidate John Edwards, announced she was stopping cancer treatment upon learning her cancer had spread to her liver and doctors told her she had only a few months to live.

Born in Jacksonville, Fla. In 1949 Edwards attended The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill for undergraduate and then proceeded to UNC’s law school where she met John Edwards. They had four children together, but their oldest son Wade died when he was a teen. Edwards wrote about the loss of her son in the 2006 book Saving Graces.

Prior to her death Edwards was receiving friends and family members, including her estranged husband, at her Chapel Hill home, according to the Associated Press.

Edwards thanked her supporters Monday on Facebook, with a message that talked about living with hope and making daily efforts to have a positive impact:

You all know that I have been sustained throughout my life by three saving graces – my family, my friends, and a faith in the power of resilience and hope. These graces have carried me through difficult times and they have brought more joy to the good times than I ever could have imagined. The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And, yes, there are certainly times when we aren't able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It's called being human. But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful. It isn’t possible to put into words the love and gratitude I feel to everyone who has and continues to support and inspire me every day. To you I simply say: you know.

Earlier this year, Edwards separated from her husband, former senator and Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, over revelations that he engaged in an extramarital affair and fathered a child with a campaign employee.

Edwards announced her support for marriage equality in 2007, distinguishing herself from her husband, who ran on a platform that supported civil unions. Since their personal struggles unfolded, she became an increasingly vocal advocate for health care reform.

Follow SheWired on Twitter!

Follow SheWired on Facebook!

Be SheWired's Friend on MySpace!