Ethel Kennedy, the matriarch of one of Massachusetts’ most notable political families, has been hospitalized following a stroke she experienced last week.
Her grandson, former Massachusetts Representative Joe Kennedy III, shared the update on social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, on Tuesday. He conveyed that Ethel was taken to a local hospital where she is receiving treatment, stating, “She is comfortable, she is getting the best care possible, and she is surrounded by family. She is, as you may know, a strong woman who has led a remarkably fulfilling life. We are here looking after her.”
Ethel Kennedy is currently 96 years old, making her the oldest surviving member of the Kennedy family. She was born on April 11, 1928.
Ethel is the widow of Robert F. Kennedy, who served as the United States Attorney General before he was tragically assassinated in 1968 while running for the presidency. She and Robert were married for over 17 years, with his death occurring less than two weeks before their 18th wedding anniversary. Ethel has never remarried.
Together, Ethel and Robert Kennedy had 11 children. Several of them have pursued political careers, including their oldest child, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, who served as the first female lieutenant governor of Maryland, and their son, Joseph Kennedy II, who was a Massachusetts state representative.
Most recently, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., one of Ethel’s sons, ran for president in the 2024 election but exited the race in August to endorse former President Donald Trump, a move that received criticism from his siblings. Kerry Kennedy publicly stated, “Our brother Bobby’s decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear.”