Ethel Kennedy, Widow Of RFK, Dead At 96, Tributes Pour In

Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Robert F. Kennedy and mother of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., died on Thursday after suffering a stroke a week ago. She was 96 years old.

Former Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-MA) announced his grandmother’s passing in a post on X, saying, “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 continued. “She was a devout Catholic and a daily communicant, and we are comforted in knowing she is reunited with the love of her life, our father, Robert F. Kennedy; her children David and Michael; her daughter-in-law Mary; her grandchildren Maeve and Saoirse; and her great-grandchildren Gideon and Josie. Please keep her in your hearts and prayers.”

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…

— Joe Kennedy III (@joekennedy) October 10, 2024

Cheryl Hines, Kennedy Jr’s wife, shared a tribute and a photo remembering her mother-in-law: “It has been my great honor to have shared laughter and love with Ethel. Her charisma, wisdom and strength will live on with me in every memory of her. Bobby and I spent many warm nights in Hyannis Port having dinner with her and hearing stories from her extraordinary life. She always made me laugh. She was never too serious except when she needed to be. She dressed to nines with bare feet. She will be missed. My love is with the family.”

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My mother in law, Ethel Kennedy, Bobby's mother, passed this morning. It has been my great honor to have shared laughter and love with Ethel. Her charisma, wisdom and strength will live on with me in every memory of her. Bobby and I spent many warm nights in Hyannis Port having… pic.twitter.com/j7faAcU1Bm

— Cheryl Hines (@CherylHines) October 10, 2024

Maria Shriver remembered her aunt in a touching tribute with several photos, saying, “My aunt, Ethel Kennedy passed this morning. What a life she led. What a huge family she created and leaves behind. I’m so glad I was able to laugh with her this summer, to share memories with her. She was a devoted sister-in-law to my mother, a one of a kind aunt to me and my cousins.”

“She was fearless, funny, smart, incredible athlete, patriot, madly in love with my Uncle Bobby, and devoted to making our country better in every way,” Shriver continued. “She was a woman of deep faith. When it got tough, and there were a lot of tough times, she dug in. She relied on her faith like my own mother. They were a pair of strong, determined women. What lives, what examples. It’s impossible to put her life in a caption. I love you, Ethel. Godspeed, and to all my cousins, I send my love to you on this day and on all days.”

My aunt, Ethel Kennedy passed this morning. What a life she led. What a huge family she created and leaves behind. I’m so glad I was able to laugh with her this summer, to share memories with her. She was a devoted sister-in-law to my mother, a one of a kind aunt to me and my… pic.twitter.com/u5ruoc4vye

— Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) October 10, 2024

As pointed out on social media, The New York Times wasted no time in using the Kennedy matriarch’s obituary to take potshots at RFK Jr. over his decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race and endorse Trump.

Paragraphs three and four read as follows:

Her death came a little more than six weeks after her third eldest child, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., ended his long-shot independent presidential campaign and endorsed former President Donald J. Trump in his bid for re-election.

Mr. Kennedy’s decision to support the Republican nominee and his earlier choice to challenge Mr. Trump’s Democratic rivals, initially President Biden and then Vice President Kamala Harris, caused a painful breach in the Kennedy family, compelling some of his many siblings, cousins, nieces, and nephews — heirs to a staunchly Democratic lineage — to speak out in dismay and anger and originally endorse the president, a friend of the family, over Mr. Kennedy.

Kennedy will be remembered for her work to champion many of the same environmental and human rights-related causes her late husband valued, beginning with the founding of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, a non-profit organization. Former President Barack Obama presented Ethel Kennedy with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in 2014.