HYANNIS PORT, Massachusetts: Family members of US Senator Edward Kennedy gathered yesterday for a private Mass at the seaside home where the 77-year-old towering figure in Democratic politics died two days ago.

As Boston prepared for three more days of tributes to the patriarch of one of America's most famous political dynasties, state officials took up the question of how quickly they could replace the state's senior senator, who had brain cancer.

Governor Deval Patrick told the Boston Globe that he wanted to honor Kennedy's wish to change state laws to allow him to name an interim senator to hold the post during the approximately five-month period until an election can be held.