Three days after the Jan. 6 anniversary, with its indelible images of costumed rioters running amok in the Capitol, former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral service in the National Cathedral presented a historical picture of a different kind, one that spoke not of upended norms, but of preservation and strength.

The casket of former President Jimmy Carter arrives for a state funeral at the National Cathedral, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Washington. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times via AP, Pool) President Joe Biden touches the casket of former President Jimmy Carter during a state funeral service at Washington National Cathedral in Washington,

President Jimmy Carter served as an example to countless patients with a terminal illness and their families as they decided whether to pursue hospice care.