The Extraordinary Life of Ethel Kennedy
Born in 1928, Ethel Kennedy fell from the womb into a family of high-flyers—a multi-millionaire businessman for a father, because why settle for anything less when your first breath is practically guaranteed a trust fund? But don’t let the glamor fool you. Ethel faced her fair share of tragedy: her parents—one might even say she was unlucky enough to inherit the “Kennedy Curse”—perished in a plane crash in 1955. That’s right, the kind of family that makes even the Grim Reaper schedule an extra appointment!
Fast-forward a few years later, and we find Ethel entering college alongside Jean Kennedy, the sister who obviously didn’t share a *whole* lot of luck either. After all, the Kennedy clan had more ups and downs than a rollercoaster on family bonding day! Ethel eventually crossed paths with Robert F. Kennedy—RFK, for those of you playing shorthand bingo—on a skiing holiday. Their romance must have been like an Oscar-winning romantic comedy, full of laughter and action, because the couple managed to pull off 11 kids before tragedy struck again: RFK was assassinated in 1968. Talk about a family reunion nobody wants to attend!
But here’s the kicker: just six months after RFK’s untimely demise, Ethel welcomed their daughter, Rory. Now that’s the ultimate “let’s keep traditions alive” moment amid a family saga peppered with heart-wrenching losses. Ethel decided that she wouldn’t remarry, proclaiming her commitment to her late husband. She must have been the poster child for “til death do us part,” even when death fancied itself a party crasher in her life.
Kennedy was not just known for her somber heartstrings; she was also a stalwart for human rights—though she preferred to keep a low profile. You know, one of those “I’ll just hang back and support from the shadows” types. It wasn’t until 2008 that she re-emerged into public consciousness, throwing her support behind Barack Obama during his presidential campaign. The old girl still had some fight left in her yet!
In 2014, she clinched the Presidential Medal of Freedom—as if being part of the Kennedy family wasn’t enough of a trophy display! But she kept her lips sealed tighter than a clam when it came to discussing her son Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his infamous foray into non-Democratic territory. He decided to support Donald Trump, and you can just imagine the family dinners after that little turn of events—talk about awkward! Someone pass the potatoes and let’s change the subject!
Life for Ethel wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, though. In October 2023, she suffered a stroke and was subsequently hospitalized on October 3rd—a metaphorical kick in the gut from life once more. Sadly, she passed away in her sleep a few days later, leaving behind a legacy riddled with both magnificent achievements and dire tragedies, perfectly encapsulating the highs and lows of being a Kennedy.
Ethel’s life is a testament to resilience, love, and the complexity of family ties. So here’s to Ethel Kennedy—a woman whose story is far more interesting than a presidential debate and whose legacy reminds us that even in the shadow of greatness, life can be a beautiful mess.
