Ethel Kennedy, Widow of Robert F. Kennedy, Passes Away at 96

Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, passed away on Thursday at the age of 96. Her family announced her death following complications related to a stroke she suffered last week. Former Representative Joe Kennedy III, a grandson, shared the news on social media, expressing the family’s “hearts full of love” as they mourn their “amazing grandmother.”

Ethel Kennedy was born Ethel Skakel on April 11, 1928, in Chicago. Her life was marked by a series of tragedies, having lost her parents in a plane crash in 1955 and brothers in various accidents. One of the defining moments of her life came in 1968 when her husband, Robert F. Kennedy, was assassinated during his presidential campaign.

Despite these personal tragedies, Kennedy immersed herself in public life, focusing particularly on social justice and human rights causes. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014 by President Barack Obama for her dedication to these causes.

Ethel Kennedy was a formidable force within the Kennedy family, raising their 11 children while maintaining a public service legacy. She founded the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights and was involved in various advocacy efforts, including gun control and human rights.

Her life was not without further heartache. Her son David Kennedy died of a drug overdose in 1984, and another son, Michael Kennedy, perished in a skiing accident in 1997. Her nephew Michael Skakel was convicted of murder in 2002, though his conviction was later vacated in 2018.

Ethel’s commitment to family and faith remained steadfast. Her family noted her devout Catholicism in their statement, expressing comfort in her reunification with her late husband and other loved ones who predeceased her.

Throughout her life, Ethel Kennedy was linked to several notable individuals but never remarried after her husband’s assassination. Her influence and contributions extend to the present day, with many of her children and grandchildren actively involved in public service and advocacy.

In her later years, Ethel Kennedy joined political efforts, endorsing then-Senator Barack Obama during his 2008 presidential campaign. She remained active in various social and political causes until her passing.