SCRANTON, Pa. — President Joe Biden will travel to Scranton on Thursday to pay respects to former Pennsylvania First Lady Ellen Casey in advance of a viewing at St. Peter's Cathedral.
Pres. Biden, a Scranton native, issued a statement on her passing here.
Ellen Casey died last week at the age of 91. Her husband was the late Gov. Robert P. Casey. Her son, Robert Casey Jr., currently serves as U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania.
A public visitation is currently scheduled for Thursday, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., at St. Peter's Cathedral on Wyoming Avenue in downtown Scranton.
There's been a strong security presence around St. Peter's Cathedral on Wednesday to prepare for the president.
Biden is expected to arrive before visiting hours for the former first lady of Pennsylvania.
Ellen Casey was known not only as the matriarch of her family but of the entire Scranton community.
Those who knew Ellen Casey tell Newswatch 16 that the visit from the president is a testament to her legacy that she leaves behind, "And the legacy that she left behind, as being such a wonderful, kind person and so caring, but the legacy lives on in her eight children," said Virginia McGregor.
The president often talks about his Scranton roots and says Ellen Casey was a large part of that. Her work extended across the entire Commonwealth and beyond, and those who knew her say this visit is a testament to her legacy.
A funeral mass is scheduled for Friday at 10 a.m., also at St. Peter's.
Road Closures:
Beginning Thursday morning, there will be some road closures due to President Biden's visit and the services for the former first lady.
There will be rolling roadblocks and closures on Interstate 81 north and south between Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport and the Scranton exits. That's for the president's motorcade.
Streets around downtown Scranton will also be closed Thursday from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. That's for Mrs. Casey's visitation.
On Friday, streets around St. Peter's Cathedral on Wyoming Avenue will be closed between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. for the funeral.
Drivers are encouraged to take alternate routes and avoid downtown Scranton.