SENATOR John McCain’s 106-year-old mother has been slowed by a stroke but is expected to attend his memorial and burial services this week.

Roberta McCain is set to attend the services in Washington and Maryland for the middle son she called “Johnny”.

The former Vietnam prisoner of war, congressman, senator and two-time presidential candidate died of brain cancer on Saturday at age 81.

His mother once said her son liked to hold her up as an example of “what he hopes his life span will be.”

McCain said in one of his books that his mother was raised to be a strong, determined woman who thoroughly enjoyed life, and always tried to make the most of her opportunities.

“She was encouraged to accept, graciously and with good humour, the responsibilities and sacrifices her choices have required of her. I am grateful to her for the strengths she taught me by example,” he wrote.

Fifteen hundred people endured triple-digit Arizona heat on Wednesday and waited in long lines outside the Arizona Capitol to attend a public viewing honouring the late Senator.

The public viewing followed the emotional private ceremony attended by the McCain family and drew a mix of people — Republicans and Democrats, Arizonans and Californians. Some of them had met McCain. Those who didn’t know him still felt a need to attend.

Parents brought their children so they could witness history. Many of those in line said they were drawn to the event to honour McCain’s military service. Others said they liked his politics.

And even those who didn’t always agree with McCain said they owed it to him to pay their respects.

His wife, Cindy, walked up to the flag-draped casket holding her husband’s body at the Arizona Capitol and patted it, then leaned over and kissed it.

The rest of his children then filed past the casket and touched it including his sons in uniform and daughter Meghan who was weeping.

Arizona’s governor Doug Ducey said that McCain was one of the only politicians who could get people to set aside politics.

The governor called McCain one of Arizona’s favourite adopted sons.

The ceremony with McCain’s wife, children and other politicians came ahead of a public viewing.

A motorcade with Senator McCain’s body had arrived for the private ceremony and afternoon and evening public viewing on the day that would have been his 82nd birthday.

State troopers on motorcycles led the black hearse on the 13km route that took the procession on southbound lanes of a highway closed to other traffic.

Ducey embraced McCain’s wife, Cindy, when the motorcade arrived.

Flag-bearing military honour guards were lined up outside the State Capitol waiting to honour McCain before his body is flown to Washington, DC for a ceremony on Friday and a memorial service on Saturday at Washington National Cathedral, followed by a private memorial service and burial Sunday at the US Naval Academy in Maryland.