Ethel Kennedy has died at the age of 96.
The human rights advocate – who was the wife of late US senator Robert F Kennedy, and a sister-in-law of President John F Kennedy – suffered a stroke earlier this week and on Thursday, her daughter Kerry revealed that she had passed away.
She wrote on X: “It is with our hearts full of love that we announce the passing of our mother, 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.”
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Ethel had 10 other children with Robert, including Kathleen, Joseph, Robert Jr, David, who died 28 in 1984, Courtney, Michael – who died in 1997 at 39 in a skiing accident – Christopher, Maxwell, Douglas, and Rory.
They tied the knot in 1950, and she never remarried following his death in 1968 at 42.
Robert was assassinated at the Ambassador Hotel, during celebrations following his successful campaign in California’s primary elections as a Democratic presidential candidate, five years on from his own brother’s assassination during his time in office.
Following this, Ethel founded of the Robert F Kennedy Memorial Centre and also co-chaired the Coalition of Gun Control.