FROM STAFF AND CNN WIRE REPORTS

BOSTON – The extraordinary life of Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy is being remembered around the world. Kennedy, who suffered from brain cancer, died Tuesday night.

His body was transported on Thursday from his home in Hyannis Port, Mass. to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston.

Kennedy is being remembered for his more than 40 years of service in the U.S. Senate. The state of Massachusetts now has an open Senate seat for the first time in 25 years.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick talked about filling the senator’s now vacant seat.

“He, like I, supports the current law that provides for a special election about five months out after a vacancy occurs, and he also made a reasonable request that the governor be permitted to appoint some one to serve for that five month period until the special election occurs,” Patrick said. “I think that’s eminently reasonable.”

Some supporters paid tribute to Kennedy in a candlelight vigil Wednesday night, while others sent flowers to his Senate office in Washington.

The Kennedy family gathered at the family compound in Hyannis Port on Thursday for a private mass. A motorcade then transported Kennedy’s body to Boston.

Kennedy’s body is now laying in repose inside the library, which will remain open to the public. On Friday at 7 p.m., there will be a private memorial service at the library. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) are expected to be among the speakers.

Kennedy’s private funeral will be held Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica in Boston. The living presidents — Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton — are expected to join President Barack Obama at the funeral. Obama is scheduled to give the eulogy.

Sen. Kennedy will be laid to rest Saturday at Arlington National Cemetery near his brothers Robert and John F. Kennedy.