Ethel Kennedy

1928 - 2024

Ethel Kennedy obituary, 1928-2024

Ethel Kennedy

1928 - 2024

BORN

1928

DIED

2024

Ethel Kennedy Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers from Oct. 10 to Oct. 11, 2024.

Ethel Kennedy was the widow of U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and an advocate for human rights.

We invite you to share condolences for Ethel Kennedy in our Guest Book.

Read the full obituary in Legacy's headline news section.

(Photo: Jamie McCarthy/WireImage)

Sign Ethel Kennedy's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

November 24, 2024

Irish fans of the Kennedy family posted to the memorial.

November 23, 2024

Friends of family posted to the memorial.

October 24, 2024

DE posted to the memorial.

53 Entries

Irish fans of the Kennedy family

November 24, 2024

Friends of family

November 23, 2024

DE

October 24, 2024

My deepest sympathy is with you and your family during this time of brief and sorrow. May Almighty God comfort you all at difficult time.

Arneatha Flemming & Family

October 17, 2024

Dear Relatives and Friends of Mrs. Ethel Kennedy, Ma'ams and Sirs,

Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this sorrowful time.

Respectfully,

Jacinta

October 17, 2024

Please pray for Father John in North Huntingdon PA for a complete healing of health!!!

RB

October 17, 2024

She was part of an amazing legacy but she established herself as an advocate and voice for people in her own right. She worked tirelessly for decades, her life is a shining example of dedication. Deepest condolences to the Kennedy family. May God be with you in your tine of loss.

Dr. Bob Morgan

October 16, 2024

I have greatly admired the Kennedy Family since John Fitzgerald Kennedy was elected as our wonderful President of the United States. I have admired the members of the Kennedy family because of their work to make the lives of all Americans better.

Gregg & Lisa Merksamer

October 16, 2024

Godspeed, Ethel Kennedy! What an all-time marvelous First Lady you would have made had 1968 - and the 56 years since - turned out the way those of us who treasure justice and basic decency most fervently hoped! Send Bobby our very best, and tremendous thanks to C-SPAN for letting us witness your memorial service uncut and uninterrupted.

Buzzie bja

October 15, 2024

My deepest heartfelt condolences to the families of Mrs. Ethel Kennedy.
She exemplified the Virtuous woman from Proverbs 31, in all that she did.
Prayers for the upcoming days for all family members through your healing journey.
Bja, from New Mexico

Carol Fisher

October 14, 2024

Ethel Kennedy always made me want to be a better person. She has left a wonderful legacy not only to her family, but to our country. Thank You. Carol Fisher

Jeffrey Allison, C.S.C.

October 14, 2024

I cannot imagine the strength of character and the fortitude of faith that helped a woman of great vision to carry on for so many years (in a Kennedy but not glitzy Kennedy name) to advocate for so many. Her husband must be proud to welcome her to his eternal home.

Pennsylvania friends

October 14, 2024

You were always so welcoming to others. No wonder Taylor Swift loved you and your family!!!

Terrence Patrick McCormick

October 14, 2024

We're having a mass for you!

Vera Harris

October 14, 2024

RIP Ethel. Enjoy your Heavenly reunion with Bobby, your 2 sons, and other family members.

Jeffrey Williams

October 14, 2024

My condolences to your family. Ethel will be remembered as a family person. She loved her family and was devoted to her husband and children.
Ethel also had a general interest in humanity which was demonstrated through her life goals. May you find comfort in remembering her life. Rest assured God will also keep the goods Ethel showed for others in his memory.

McDonough family

October 14, 2024

Prayers & rosaries

McDonough family

Barbara Dulaney

October 13, 2024

Thank you for sharing your life and family with all of us. God bless you and your family.
A servant's heart job well done. Enter into your rest with the heavenly father

Tim Curtin

October 13, 2024

It was an honor to receive a phone call from you as you prepared to move from Hickory Hill saying that you had found a book I sent to you ten years before and I was happy to tell you about myself and the inspiration I had received from both you and your late husband. Thank you for your consideration and graciousness in taking the time to telephone and speak with me. May God bless your memory and comfort all those who mourn your passing.

Veronica

October 13, 2024

You never lost your figure after having a large family. You had a beautiful wedding gown and a cute white and yellow dress for the day of Bobby's last speech!
Even your outfit for the funeral had class! You always were in control of your emotions no matter what happened in public!!!

George Sigalos

October 13, 2024

A great woman, a stalwart, dedicated leader, family matriarch and a true Profile in Courage. She was ever so gracious & kind to me and I will never forget how she inspired me. God Bless.

Miriam

October 13, 2024

To those of us who are motherless you assured us that we have a mother who loves us
MARY!

Kimtraila Willians

October 13, 2024

Dear Kennedy Family
Celebrating the life of a wonderful woman named Ethel Kennedy and mourning Ethel Kennedy passing with you. Let President Barack Obama know that Kimtraila said condolence to your loved one.

charles candler sadler

October 13, 2024

God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Catherine Doherty

October 13, 2024

Sincere condolences to the Kennedy family may Ethel rest in peace from a cousin in Ireland.

Margaret Connolly Irwin

October 13, 2024

Condolences to the Skakel and Kennedy family on the passing of a wonderful lady. What stood out for me was her Stenght and Courage watching Roberts funeral and her advocate for Human Rights. Meet the Kennedy family on several of there trips to Ireland attended the lighting of the Eternal flame by Caroline ect. RIP Ethel. Mgt Connolly Irwin. Connection 4th Cousin To JFK and Robert and the rest of the family. .

Jennifer Baribault

October 12, 2024

Jennifer Baribault

October 12, 2024

Jennifer Baribault

October 12, 2024

Jennifer

October 12, 2024

Jennifer

October 12, 2024

faith c.tobin/brad j.herscot

October 12, 2024

Dear Kennedy Family my beau Brad and I would like to take this time to extend our thoughts and condolences's to the family.she'll surely be missed very much./may she rest in peace.best faith/brad

David & Patricia Gutknecht Family

October 12, 2024

Our thoughts, love and prayers to all of the family as we remember Ethel for her vibrant energy in all that she did in her lifetime that has impacted so many within her family, the community, the nation. A life well lived. Blessings. David & Patricia Gutknecht Family, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

Matthew J. McGuire

October 12, 2024

Your heart soon will be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

Davis Family

October 12, 2024

We send our heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the Family of Ethel Kennedy. May your treasured good memories provide comfort for you always. Surely, she will be missed by all who loved her. She was a voice for many people, and her legacy will continue.

May prayers strengthen you and God´s loyal love always comfort and sustain you. Psalm 23

Tony Spirito

October 12, 2024

Janelle Almendis

October 12, 2024

102 Years.. fantastic. It shows the decree of love you had for her and her own willingness to give more to life. Well Done! May her legacy of Humanity and rights to be respected continues! May your hearts be comforted by Gods eternal love. Accept my condolences.

yewande olagbemi

October 12, 2024

Ethel Kennedy was a woman with a good heart who bestowed kindness on every individual she came across. May your soul rest in peace.
Yewande Olagbemi

Harland Stanley

October 11, 2024

My deepest sympathy to the Kennedy Family. Her legacy will live forever.

Ame Caline

October 11, 2024

Now you're with Bobby!

Irish fans of the Kennedy family

October 11, 2024

You were so poised and yet proper at Bobby's last speech. We really enjoyed seeing you in the beautiful white & yellow dress. It is as iconic as the pink suit that Jackie wore Nov 22, 1963.
All of you Kennedy wives had class!!!

Stacy Harris

October 11, 2024

I first met Ethel Kennedy, in the company of her children, Kerry and Michael and accompanied by Ethel´s sister-in-law, Joan Kennedy on November 21, 1971. The occasion was a Kennedy Center benefit tennis match at Georgetown University´s McDonough Gymnasium.

During a lull in the festivities, I showed Ethel a photo of her husband and I, taken by Angela Novello in Robert Kennedy´s senate office, nearly a year to the day before RFK´s assassination. Mrs. Kennedy passed it on for her son and daughter to see.

Ethel Kennedy seemed entertained by my rather detailed story (one of many such tales involving sporadic meetups with three generations of Kennedys at various places I was living or visiting over a period of decades ), of how the meeting occurred after my failed attempt to meet Bobby when he visited Worthington, Minnesota in 1966 in the role of parade grand marshal for the city´s annual Turkey Day celebration. (Seeking to keep her boss on schedule, Angie was understandably opposed to the unscheduled 1967 meeting and I will be forever grateful to Senator Kennedy for overruling Novello´s decision, spending some quality time with a Kennedy family-obsessed teen between scheduled meetings with an ambassador and TIME reporter.)

After moving to Nashville, I saw Joan Kennedy again backstage at the Grand Ole Opry (as I did, on yet another occasion, her niece, future media personality niece Maria Shriver) when Senator Edward Kennedy´s former wife made a guest appearance on the world´s longest continuous live radio stage show. (While Ethel Kennedy is being eulogized as the last link with Camelot- the classical pianist and mother of Ted Kennedy´s children remains very much alive.)

I would not see Ethel Kennedy again until, she too, visited Nashville. Mrs. Kennedy and I reunited following John Seigenthaler´s July 14, 2014 funeral (I freelanced for The Tennessean and was Seig's guest on his weekly TV show, A Word on Words.)

On that occasion Ethel Kennedy was joined by her son, Joe (whom I first met when he, like me, was waiting for his dad to arrive at RFK´s senate office on that aforementioned day on June 12, 1967 and whom I would later meet again when Joe keynoted an HRC meeting in Nashville on March 18, 1994) and Congressman Joe Kennedy, III to whom I was introduced.

Great memories all, with previously unpublished photos and largely yet untold stories to match!

My sympathy to family, friends and all who mourn.

Alison Sticklestad

October 11, 2024

I thought was a great lady! One of the last great advocates for our country the United States of America we will see. God bless Ethel! RIP Mrs. Ethel Skakel Kennedy Prayers for her family

Diana Patton

October 11, 2024

My condolences and prayers to Ethel Kennedy's children. She was a remarkable person with strength after her tragedy of losing her husband. She is now with her husband. She is healed and safe in Heaven. The Lord Is My Shepherd.

Kathryn M. Coulombe

October 11, 2024

My husband, Roger A. Coulombe, of Northampton, MA taught history and government and was a great admirer of Jack and Bobby. As JFK said, paraphrasing, "to do something for your country", Roger took two years off from teaching to enter the Peace Corps and serve in Thailand (Thai 9). Inspired by both men, he had many of their books, writings and their busts in his office as he rose in his profession to become Headmaster of several major private schools.
I was greatly inspired by Ethel Kennedy who was such a comfort to Jackie when she needed great support, and so, too, she would need comforting herself when she lost her Bobby. Her tremendous strength in carrying on to raise all of her children and being the beloved matriarch and glue of her family as she carried on through life with such dignity. She was the epitome of a quiet yet forceful leader in the areas of justice and civil rights, carrying Bobby's legacy forward.
Our family's condolences to her children, grand and great children and close friends. Ethel set high standards for us all to follow.
Kathryn Nott Coulombe, South Hadley, MA
P.S. Roger's sister, Terry Coulombe Connor, was Head Nurse on Teddy's floor at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton following his airplane crash. Terry and Teddy had several exchanges in joking ways as she tried to comfort him before he was released. He kindly wrote back to the nursing staff, sending flowers and remembrances to all the nurses. True Kennedy Class.

Elizabeth Bell

October 11, 2024

RIP Ethel

David

October 10, 2024

Thank you for all your hard work and dedication.

David

Rillton fans

October 10, 2024

You passed on the 20 year anniversary of Christopher who played Superman. But you were a Superwoman raising all of the children on your own. You really did a superb job and we're so glad that you made 11 more contributions to the most loved family in America --- the Kennedys!!!

Kennedy admirers

October 10, 2024

Diana Patton

October 10, 2024

My condolences and prayers to the family of Mrs. Kennedy. She was a remarkable woman. I always admired Ethel Kennedy. She was a very smart and strong woman. She is now with Robert, her husband.

Jennifer Frenkil

October 10, 2024

The most devoted and full of energy, so in love with every moment, she lived her life to the fullest, Bravo In literally every step she took in her Amazing Life Story!
I remember Ethel Kennedy always RIP
Amen ... Until We Meet Again

Now with her Beloved, Bobby.. RFK
As they are Reunited and Together Forever
Thank Jesus Christ as He wraps them all in His Heavenly Hug
Growing Up Kennedy details an Awesome Wife and Descendant and she was !

T Brooks

October 10, 2024

So sorry to hear of the passing of Mrs. Kennedy. What a legacy and a life well lived! Grateful she is reunited with her beloved husband, who she has no doubt missed for so many years. Sending thoughts and prayers to her family and friends.

James Conway

October 10, 2024

I was a hotel manager in St Davids PA at the St Davids Inn. Ethel Kennedy stayed at the hotel with her children for a family wedding in Radnor, PA. Mrs Kennedy had her assistant contact me to see about getting her a meal after restaurant was closed. I went to her suite and she asked if I could get her a BLT sandwich from the kitchen, which of course I did. I remember her as being so kind and had a great sense of humor. God bless you Mrs Kennedy and may you rest in peace. My deepest sympathy for the Kennedy family.

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Sign Ethel Kennedy's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

November 24, 2024

Irish fans of the Kennedy family posted to the memorial.

November 23, 2024

Friends of family posted to the memorial.

October 24, 2024

DE posted to the memorial.