Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was remembered as a woman with a spirit of adventure and love of family, one who gave "a lesson to the world on how to do things right."
Family and friends gathered inside a Park Avenue church Monday to mourn the former first lady in a private service, while hundreds of people stood outside to say a final goodbye.John F. Kennedy Jr., in a steady voice, paid tribute to his mother's "love of words, bonds of home and family and her spirit of adventure." Then he read from the prophet Isaiah. "On that day it will be said, behold our God whom we look to save us," he read. "Let us rejoice and be glad he saved us."
Mrs. Onassis, 64, widow of President Kennedy and of millionaire shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, died Thursday night of cancer. She was being buried Monday afternoon in Arlington National Cemetery, next to the slain president.
In his eulogy, Sen. Edward Kennedy said his sister-in-law "was always there - for our family - in her special way."
"She was a blessing to us and to the nation - and a lesson to the world on how to do things right, how to be a mother, how to appreciate history, how to be courageous."
"I often think of what she said about Jack in December after he died: `They made him a legend, when he would have preferred to be a man,' " the senator said. "Jackie would have preferred to be just herself, but the world insisted that she be a legend, too. She never wanted public notice - in part, I think because it brought back painful memories of an unbearable sorrow, endured in the glare of a million lights."
"She graced our history," he said. "And for those of us who knew and loved her - she
graced our lives."
Among those attending the funeral were the current first lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and former first lady Lady Bird Johnson.
It was a simple, graceful funeral Mass whose every detail - from the bouquets of white flowers and long, tapered candles decorating the altar to the songs and readings - was designed by John Jr. and his sister, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg.
The opera singer Jessye Norman sang a poignant rendition of Schubert's "Ave Maria." Caroline and Mrs. Onassis' companion of many years, Maurice Tempelsman, each read a poem.
Television cameras were not allowed in the church, but the sound portion was relayed to listeners across the nation. CBS, NBC and CNN carried the service, using still pictures of Mrs. Onassis to accompany the audio.
After the 80-minute service, the mahogany casket, covered with ferns and a cross of white flowers, was lowered down the steps of St. Ignatius Loyola Church, followed by Mrs. Onassis' children and Sen. Kennedy. John Jr. put his arm around his sister as the casket was put into a hearse, then he hugged his uncle.
Security was extremely tight. Police kept spectators several blocks from the church behind barricades. The blocks surrounding the church were closed to all except residents, who had to prove they lived in the area.
Even so, ordinary people came out to say goodbye. Some listened to the service on portable radios.
Monday's funeral followed a private viewing Sunday at Mrs. Onassis' apartment, a few blocks from the church. During it, a crowd out on the street 15 stories below chanted: "We love Jackie!"
President Clinton decided not to attend the New York funeral with his wife because he thought his presence would conflict with "the wishes of the family to keep it private," a White House spokeswoman said.
Clinton was to speak at the burial service.
The Kennedy grave site was closed all day Monday. A scattering of onlookers and rows of television satellite vans were gathered outside the cemetery's massive gates.
A cemetery spokesman said 23 other funerals that had been scheduled during the day were going on as planned. The section near the Kennedy grave site, however, was closed.
The gothic Washington National Cathedral, which overlooks Washington, planned to toll its "passing" bell 64 times, once for each year of Mrs. Onassis' life, in remembrance of the former first lady.