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Ethel Kennedy has died. The widow of Robert F. Kennedy passed away after suffering a stroke at the age of 96, a family member confirmed to CBS News. She reportedly suffered a stroke in her sleep on October 3. Her grandson Joe Kennedy III posted on social media earlier in the week, referencing his “incredible grandmother” as a “strong woman who has led a remarkably fulfilling life.” Keep reading to find out more… “It is with our hearts full of love that we announce the passing of our amazing grandmother, Ethel Kennedy. She died this morning from complications related to a stroke suffered last week. Along with a lifetime’s work in social justice and human rights, our mother leaves behind nine children, 34 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren, along with numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom love her dearly,” he wrote on Thursday (October 10). The Kennedy matriarch gave birth to her 11th child, Rory, six months after her husband was assassinated in 1968 as he celebrated his victory in California’s Democratic presidential primary. She founded the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights foundation in October 1968, offering programs for rights advocates around the world. She was born in Chicago in 1928 and grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut, and was just 17 years old when she met her future husband, Bobby Kennedy, who was dating her sister Patricia at the time. The two later married on June 17, 1950, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Greenwich. The couple campaigned for Bobby‘s brother, John F. Kennedy, in his 1960 presidential run. Bobby Kennedy served as attorney general in his brother’s administration. After her husband’s death, Ethel Kennedy co-chaired the Coalition of Gun Control among other human rights organizations. President Barack Obama honored her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a ceremony at the White House in 2014. “She’s gone to extraordinary lengths to build support for causes close to her heart,” Obama said at the ceremony, via CBS News. Ethel Kennedy is survived by nine of her children and a large extended family. Her son Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president in 2024, dropping out in August. Our thoughts are with Ethel Kennedy‘s loved ones at this incredibly difficult time. We have lost many stars and public figures in 2024.
