George W. Bush says mom Barbara is in heaven: 'She truly believes there's an afterlife'

Former U.S. President George W. Bush believes that his mom Barbara, who died on April 17 at the age of 92, is now in heaven.  And that knowledge has given their family the greatest comfort in their time of grief.

George W. Bush said his mother, Barbara Bush, had a strong faith in God.REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Speaking in an interview for the first time after his mother's death, America's 43rd president said that he is comforted by the fact that his mother's soul is at peace. Bush revealed that his mother's faith prepared her for death and that she was not afraid to face this inevitable end.

"She truly believes that there's an afterlife," Bush said."That she'll be wonderfully received in the arms of a loving God," he added.

At the funeral service for the former First Lady last Saturday, Bush shared a photo of his mother's casket as it was carried off to the Presidential Library in Texas. Bush captioned the photo: "Give Robin a hug for us, Mom."

Robin was the daughter that the Bushes lost due to leukemia when she was three years old. The child's death was one of the most painful experiences in the life of Barbara, then a young mom who developed prematurely gray hair due to the stress and grief.

Give Robin a hug for us, Mom.

A post shared by George W. Bush (@georgewbush) on

Bush also shared one of the final moments he had with his mother in an interview with Fox. The former president said that he was able to tell his mother that he loved her and that he wouldn't cry when she passed.

"She had great faith," Bush said. "As a result of her soul being comforted on the deathbed, my soul is comforted," he added.

His father and America's 41st president George H.W. Bush held his mother's hand as Barbara breathed her last. They were married for 73 years.