Members of the Kennedy family gathered Monday for the funeral of Ethel Kennedy, widow of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, at Our Lady of Victory Church in Centerville, Massachusetts.
Ethel Kennedy, who died Thursday at age 96 following complications from a stroke, was remembered for her dedication to social causes and her role in preserving the Kennedy family legacy. She raised 11 children after her husband’s assassination in 1968.
The private funeral, held about 70 miles south of Boston, drew mourners under overcast skies. Family members highlighted her extensive impact, noting, “Along with a lifetime’s work in social justice and human rights, our mother leaves behind nine children, 34 grandchildren and 24 great-great-grandchildren, along with numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom love her dearly.”
President Joe Biden paid tribute to Ethel Kennedy, calling her “an American icon — a matriarch of optimism and moral courage, an emblem of resilience and service.”
Born into wealth, Ethel married Robert F. Kennedy in 1950. By age 40, she had endured profound losses, including the assassinations of both her husband and brother-in-law, President John F. Kennedy.
Despite these tragedies, Ethel Kennedy continued to champion social causes. She founded the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights and advocated for gun control and human rights throughout her life.
As one of the last remaining members of her generation of Kennedys, Ethel’s passing marks the end of an era in American political history. Her family noted that she had enjoyed visits with many relatives before her recent illness.
The funeral service serves as a reminder of the Kennedy family’s enduring influence on American politics and social activism, with Ethel’s life embodying both the triumphs and tragedies that have defined the Kennedy legacy.
