WILMINGTON, Del. — On Wednesday, President Joe Biden took a moment to remember his late wife, Neilia, and their baby daughter, Naomi, who lost their lives in a tragic car accident 52 years ago in Delaware. The heartbreaking incident occurred when Neilia, at the age of 30, was driving her children—one-year-old Naomi and her two sons, Beau and Hunter—to pick out a Christmas tree. Their vehicle was struck by a tractor-trailer, resulting in the untimely deaths of Neilia and Naomi, while Beau and Hunter sustained severe injuries.
In a private memorial Mass held at St. Joseph on the Brandywine Roman Catholic Church, located near Biden’s home, the president was joined by his current wife, Jill, their son Hunter, and other family members. Following the service, the family proceeded to the cemetery situated behind the church, where they solemnly visited the graves of Neilia and Naomi. Jill Biden held hands with her grandson, Beau, during this poignant moment.
President Biden frequently reflects on his profound personal losses, sharing his experiences openly with the public. Just last week, he recounted a powerful memory of when he was in Washington, D.C., alongside then-Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, and received a devastating phone call. He relayed the traumatic experience of learning about the accident through a local fire department, recalling the firewoman’s grim message regarding his family.
Biden, who had just begun his career in the Senate mere weeks before the tragic accident, spoke of how he contemplated stepping away from politics altogether. However, he heeded the advice of his colleagues, was sworn into office at his sons’ hospital bedside, and established a rigorous routine of commuting daily between Delaware and Washington on Amtrak.
With plans to conclude nearly 50 years in public service next month, Biden’s journey includes an impressive tenure of 36 years in the Senate, along with eight years as vice president, and four years serving as president. His candid discussions regarding grief and the process of coping have significantly shaped his identity as a leader, creating a strong connection with those who have experienced similar losses.
After losing Neilia and Naomi, Biden married Jill Jacobs in 1977, who embraced Beau and Hunter, raising them as her own. Together, they later welcomed a daughter named Ashley. The specter of loss touched Biden again when Beau Biden passed away due to brain cancer in 2015 at the age of 46, and he too is interred in the church cemetery—a poignant reminder of the family’s enduring legacy of love and resilience.