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Canadian envoy, who hid Americans in residence during Iran hostage crisis, honored at funeral

Associated Press
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Pat Taylor looks down at the funeral of her husband, Ken Taylor, Canada's former ambassador to Iran, in Toronto, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015. Taylor, Canada's former ambassador to Iran who sheltered Americans at his residence during the 1979 hostage crisis, died on Oct. 16 of colon cancer. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) (The Associated Press)

Pat Taylor, Ken Taylor's widow, speaks at the funeral of the former diplomat in Toronto on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015. Taylor was Canada's ambassador to Iran in 1979 when he helped six Americans escape the country during the hostage crisis. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) (The Associated Press)

Pat Taylor, Ken Taylor's widow, speaks at the funeral of the former diplomat in Toronto on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015. Taylor was Canada's ambassador to Iran in 1979 when he helped six Americans escape the country during the hostage crisis. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) (The Associated Press)

Canadian Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau, former prime minister Joe Clark and the U.S. ambassador attended the funeral of Canada's ambassador to Iran who sheltered Americans at his residence during the 1979 hostage crisis.

Ken Taylor died on Oct. 16 of colon cancer. Taylor kept the Americans hidden at his residence and at the home of his deputy, John Sheardown, in Tehran for three months. Taylor facilitated their escape by arranging plane tickets and persuading the Canadian government to issue fake passports.

He was heralded in the U.S. as a hero for helping save the Americans in the clandestine operation.

Clark, Canada's prime minister in 1979, said at Tuesday's funereal that Taylor's conduct and courage earned the admiration of the world. He says it was a very Canadian thing to do.