Ethel Kennedywidow of Sen. Robert Kennedy, died Thursday at age 96. Her family said she was hospitalized after suffering a stroke in her sleep on October 3.
Joe Kennedy III, Ethel Kennedy’s grandson, announced her death on social media, saying, “She passed away this morning from complications related to a stroke suffered last week.”
Ethel Kennedy, who raised 11 children after the assassination of her husband Robert Kennedy, was a key figure in maintaining the Kennedy familyHer children include Kathleen, Joseph II, Robert Jr., David, Courtney, Michael, Kerry, Christopher, Max, Douglas and Rory. She was one of the last members of a generation that included former President John F. Kennedy.
Recently, Kennedy has been enjoying time with his family, spending days with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A family statement said: “Every day she enjoyed spending time with her children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It was a gift for all of us and for her too.”
Ethel Kennedy was born on April 11, 1928 Chicago and married Robert F. Kennedy in 1950. Her life was marked by numerous tragedies, including the assassination of her husband in 1968 and her son-in-law, President John F. Kennedy, in 1963. Her parents died in a plane crash in 1955 and she lost her brother in 1966. Additionally, her son David died of a drug overdose and her son Michael died in a skiing accident.
Kennedy was known for her dedication to social causes. She founded the Robert Kennedy Center for Justice and Human rights after the death of her husband and interceded for gun control and human rights. Despite her many losses, she remained rooted in her Catholic faith and devotion to family.
In recent years, she has approved Barack Obama for president in 2008 and received Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014
Ethel Kennedy is remembered for her enduring strength and contribution to maintaining the legacy of the Kennedy family.
