Matriarch of the Kennedy family and widow of former US Senator Robert F. Kennedy, Ethel Kennedy has died, aged 96. According to a family confirmation, she surrendered to complications from a stroke she suffered last week early Wednesday morning.
“It is with our hearts full of love that we announce our incredible grandmother has passed away,” her grandson Joe Kennedy III said on X, formerly known as Twitter. “She died this morning from complications of a stroke she suffered last week.”
Ethel Kennedy, of course, is a historic icon. Born in 1928, Ethel Skakel married Robert F. Kennedy in 1950. They formed one of the most recognizable political couples of their time and were never afraid to stand up for what was right before their very eyes.
Following the tragic assassination of her husband during his presidential campaign in 1968, Ethel Kennedy continued to be an undisputed human rights campaigner, social justice advocate, and champion of continuing her late husband’s work.
Ethel and Robert had 11 children, and their family became the icon of the Kennedy dynasty, often called America’s royal family. Owing to much personal tragedy, including the loss of her husband and several of her children to death, Ethel Kennedy was an incredibly strong woman, committed both to her family and to her Catholic faith.
She was involved in so many charitable causes during her lifetime, especially those concerning poverty, racial equality, and social justice. Her works played a pivotal role in the founding of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, which continues to advocate for the ideals her husband maintained even after his death.
The Kennedy family, who have been deeply integrated with American politics and history over the years, said that they are very saddened by the passing of its matriarch. Ethel Kennedy, as a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, was the heart of the Kennedy family through the good and bad times.
No funeral arrangements have been publicly made; however, it has been announced that the Kennedy family will privately hold a service for her. Tributes pour in as public figures across the nation pay respect and accolades to Ethel Kennedy.
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