Beau Biden funeral scheduled for Saturday in Wilmington

WASHINGTON -- A funeral Mass for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden will be held Saturday in his hometown of Wilmington, with President Barack Obama delivering a eulogy, White House officials said Tuesday.

Biden, 46, the eldest son of Vice President Joe Biden, died Saturday of brain cancer.

Biden's body will lie in honor Thursday afternoon at Legislative Hall in Dover, where House members opened their session Tuesday with a moment of silence.

"It's a very sad time for a lot of us in this building," said House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth.

"This week, we're all part of Joe Biden's family," Schwartzkopf added.

A public wake is planned for Friday at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Wilmington, with viewings from 1 to 4 p.m. and again from 6 to 9 p.m.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Anthony of Padua.

Biden's widow, Hallie, has requested that in lieu of flowers, people wishing to make a contribution in his memory donate to the newly created Beau Biden Foundation for the Protection of Children at www.beaubidenfoundation.org .

In addition to his widow, survivors include his two children, his father and stepmother, a brother and a sister.