Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Robert F. Kennedy and a prominent advocate for social justice, passed away on October 10 at the age of 96.
Her family confirmed that she died from complications following a stroke suffered the previous week, as stated by former Congressman Joe Kennedy III, her grandson.
“It is with our hearts full of love that we announce the passing of our amazing grandmother, Ethel Kennedy,” he shared in a heartfelt message on social media.
Joe Kennedy described her as a devout Catholic and expressed comfort in knowing she is now reunited with her late husband, Robert F. Kennedy.
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He noted her legacy includes nine children, 34 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren, all of whom cherished her deeply.
Ethel Kennedy’s life was marked by profound tragedy.
She lost her husband to an assassin’s bullet in 1968 while he was campaigning for the presidency and her brother-in-law, President John F. Kennedy, was assassinated in 1963.
Her own parents were killed in a plane crash in 1955, further underscoring the hardships she faced.
Born Ethel Skakel on April 11, 1928, in Chicago, she met Robert F. Kennedy in 1945 at a ski resort in Quebec, where they married five years later.
Together, they welcomed 11 children, with their youngest, Rory, born just six months after RFK’s assassination.
Following her husband’s death, Ethel dedicated herself to continuing his legacy through the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights.
In recognition of her advocacy work, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2014.
Despite enduring personal losses, including the tragic deaths of her son Michael in a skiing accident in 1997 and David from a drug overdose in 1984, Ethel remained a resilient figure in her family and community.
Ethel Kennedy leaves behind a lasting legacy of commitment to social justice and family values, remembered fondly by her large family and many admirers.