Ethel Kennedy, a leading advocate for social justice, has passed away at 96, as her family shared through heartfelt social media posts.
Ethel, the widow of Robert F. Kennedy, died in Boston surrounded by family. Her death closes a life marked by activism, strength, and a deep love for her family.
Her grandson, Joe Kennedy III, announced on Twitter, “She died this morning from complications related to a stroke suffered last week.” Ethel is survived by nine children, 34 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren.
Joe said his grandmother was a devout Catholic and found peace in believing she is now with her late husband Robert, her sons David and Michael, daughter-in-law Mary, and grandchildren Maeve and Saoirse, along with great-grandchildren Gideon and Josie.
Her son, Robert Kennedy Jr., also shared his grief on social media, mentioning his mother’s lively personality, saying, “She never lost her fun, humor, and spark.”
Many tributes followed, celebrating Ethel’s extraordinary life. Her niece, Maria Shriver, said, “What a life she led. What a huge family she leaves behind. I’m glad I could laugh with her this summer and share memories.”
Robert Kennedy Jr. shared that his mother, Ethel, often spoke with excitement about reuniting with loved ones who had passed, including her 16 Irish setters, all named “Rusty.”
Tributes continued to pour in, honoring Ethel’s life. Her niece, Maria Shriver, posted a touching message, saying, “What a life she led. What a huge family she created and leaves behind. I’m so glad I could laugh with her this summer and share memories.”
Maria also praised Ethel’s character, calling her fearless, funny, smart, a great athlete, and deeply patriotic. She mentioned how deeply Ethel loved her husband, Robert, who Maria affectionately called “Uncle Bobby.”
Maria highlighted Ethel’s strong faith, adding, “During the tough times, and there were many, she leaned on her faith, just like my own mother.”
After Maria’s tribute, Ethel’s granddaughter, Michaela Kennedy Cuomo, posted a touching photo on her Instagram Story. The image showed her hand holding Ethel’s, which was adorned with a large diamond ring. Set to Taylor Swift’s song “Starlight,” the picture reflected their closeness during Ethel’s final moments.
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton also expressed his and Hillary’s condolences. He honored Ethel’s long and impactful life, calling her a “fierce fighter for justice and equality, a warm, wonderful woman, a great mother, and a dear friend.”
Bill fondly remembered Ethel for her personal touch, noting that she sent the “best Valentine’s Day cards ever” to their family. He added, “Hillary and I loved her very much and will always cherish the friendship, kindness, and support she gave us over the years.”
Ethel was born on April 11, 1928, to a wealthy family in Chicago. Her father, George Skakel, built a successful coal business, and the family eventually moved to a large estate in Greenwich, Connecticut, where Ethel grew up with her six siblings.
Ethel Kennedy attended several prestigious schools, starting with the all-girls Greenwich Academy in Connecticut, followed by the Convent of the Sacred Heart in the Bronx, and then Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart. It was at college where she met Jean Kennedy, and they became close friends and roommates. This friendship would eventually change her life forever.
In 1945, at the age of 17, Ethel met Jean’s brother, Robert Kennedy, during a skiing trip at Mount Tremblant Resort in Quebec, Canada. At that time, Robert was dating Ethel’s sister, Patricia Skakel. After that relationship ended, Ethel and Robert began dating, marking the start of their lifelong partnership.
Ethel’s involvement in public life went beyond her marriage to Robert. She became well-known for her strong support of John F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign and later, her husband’s successful run for a U.S. Senate seat representing New York.
Ethel Kennedy’s impact was vast, as seen in the numerous tributes and birthday wishes from family and friends. Throughout her 96 years, she was known not only for her strong humanitarian work but also for the deep love she had for those around her. Ethel will be remembered for her enduring legacy of fighting for social justice and her dedication to family. Her compassion, strength, and warm spirit touched countless lives, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy that will continue to inspire future generations.
The Woman Complained That Her Raincoat Got Completely Soaked. The Company Remained Silent, and Then Delivered an Epic Response
Jennifer Jensen from Texas celebrated her 30th birthday in New Zealand, immersing herself in nature. She brought a raincoat that soaked through in heavy rain. She recorded a complaint video that unexpectedly went viral. The famous clothing brand had to respond, and they did it in a way that exceeded expectations
“I bought this ‘rain jacket’ a couple days ago,” she started the video, revealing she had purchased the jacket specifically for its supposed waterproof capability, “I’m 100% sure that it’s raining outside, and I’m soaking wet.”
Pausing to showcase the picturesque scenery of New Zealand, she conveyed that her intent wasn’t to seek a refund. Instead, she had a unique request for the brand, “redesign this raincoat to make it waterproof and express deliver it up to the top of Hooker Valley Lake in New Zealand where I will be waiting.”
The complaint video quickly went viral, reaching over 11.6 million views and numerous comments. Audience pointed out the conspicuous silence from the famous clothing brand. However, the brand’s silence was broken with an epic marketing video.
In response, the brand shared a video on their TikTok page, revealing a staff member (skiier Jossi Wells in disguise) retrieving a red jacket from a local store in New Zealend. The video then showcased the employee boarding a helicopter to meet Jensen and deliver her new jacket.
The caption read, “We were busy express delivering Jenn her jacket at the top of the mountain. Thanks for the help, Jossi!” This post garnered over 4 million views and thousands of comments, including a delighted response from Jensen, “You guys definitely came through for me. We’ll give the new jacket a shot on my next rainy day hike,” she expressed.
Jennifer said she doesn’t understand why the first jacket didn’t function properly and wondered if it was just a ’one-time product malfunction’. “I made that short video thinking only my best friend would see it because I didn’t have a lot of followers at the time. I never imaged it would go viral and I didn’t post it expecting it would get any traction,” she said.
“I’m not an influencer and never set out to be one. I was just trying to make an unfortunate situation funny and lighthearted. I’m glad the company reached out to make amends for the customer experience let-down. It was a very fun and unexpected adventure.”
Later, Jennifer shared that she had already tested the new jacket on a rainy day, and it kept her dry for 8 miles.
This video has won the hearts of people worldwide. But even small companies can approach service with passion and pleasantly surprise their customers.
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