Ethel Kennedy, widow of Robert F. Kennedy and matriarch of the family, dies at 96

Washington/New York, Oct 10 (EFE).- Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Robert F. Kennedy – assassinated in 1968 – and matriarch of the family, died this morning at the age of 96 due to complications resulting from a stroke, reported today his relatives.

«With hearts full of love we announce the passing of our wonderful grandmother, Ethel Kennedy. In addition to a lifetime of work in favor of social justice and human rights, she leaves behind nine children, 34 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nephews and nieces, all of whom love her dearly,” her grandson said today in X , Joe Kennedy III, former Democratic congressman from Massachusetts.

Kennedy highlighted that the deceased was “a devout Catholic and a daily communion,” and stated that it comforts her “to know that she has been reunited with the love of her life, Robert F. Kennedy,” one of the brothers of the late President John F. Kennedy.

After the assassination of her husband in 1968 while she was in a hotel, Ethel dedicated herself to caring for her eleven children and founded the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights; In 2014, then-President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her involvement in various social causes.

Family celebration: Seated (left to right): Eunice Kennedy Shriver; Rose and Joseph Kennedy; Jacqueline with Edward. Second row (from left to right): Ethel Kennedy (wife of Robert F); Stephen Smith (Jean’s husband); Jean Kennedy Smith, President JFK (center) ; Robert F Kennedy, Patricia Kennedy Lawford, Sargent Shriver, (Eunice’s husband), Joan (Edward’s wife) and actor Peter Lawford, Patricia Kennedy’s husband. EFE/ Sipa Press

Ethel Skakel – her last name before marrying the politician – was born on April 11, 1928 in Chicago, and met her future husband in 1945 at a ski resort, although at that time the Democrat was dating her older sister, Patricia. , according to an official biography.

However, Ethel and ‘Bobby’ – which was the nickname of the former US attorney general – ended up marrying in 1950 and a year later they had their first daughter, Kathleen.

Robert F. Kennedy was a senator from New York and in 1968 he presented his candidacy for the presidential elections, shortly before being assassinated.

Ethel Kennedy dies about six weeks after her third son, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., ended his election campaign about six weeks ago and positioned himself in favor of Republican candidate Donald Trump.

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