Ethel Kennedy suffers a stroke: Family asks for prayers for RFK widow

Ethel Kennedy, the matriarch of the Kennedy political family, wife of late Senator Robert Kennedy and sister-in-law of former President John F Kennedy, suffered a stroke last week her family revealed. 

Kennedy's daughter Kerry Kennedy released a statement sharing an update on her mother's health in which she asked people to keep the 96-year-old in their prayers.

'I want to let you know about my incredible mother, Ethel Kennedy,' she wrote in a statement posted on X. 

'Unfortunately, on Thursday morning she suffered a stroke in her sleep,' her daughter wrote.  'She was brought to an area hospital where she is now receiving treatment. She is comfortable, she is getting the best care possible and she is surrounded by family.'

Kennedy wrote that her mom is a 'strong woman' who has led a 'remarkably fulfilling life.'

Kennedy called for people to keep her mother in their thoughts and prayers and asked for them to respect the family's privacy at this time.

Her daughter also shared that up until Thursday, Kennedy was doing well.

'She has had a great summer and transition into fall,' the 59-year-old included. 

'Every day she enjoyed time with her children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was able to get out on the water, visit the pier, and enjoy many lunches and dinners with family. It has been a gift to all of us and to her as well.' 

The Kennedy family matriarch is the mother of eleven children with late Senator Kennedy whom she was married to from 1950 up until his assassination in 1968.

At the time, she was pregnant with their youngest child, a daughter the senator never got to meet.

After Kennedy was killed, she founded the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights and worked tirelessly for world peace. 

 In 2012, she appeared in a documentary about her life directed by her youngest child, Rory.

In 2014, then-President Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States for 'advancing the cause of social justice, human rights, environmental protection, and poverty reduction.'

During the ceremony, he said she has 'touched the lives of countless people around the world with her generosity and grace.'

In April, Kennedy celebrated her 96th birthday surrounded by her family including children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

An image from the occasion posted by her grandson former Congressman Joe Kennedy III showed the 96-year-old smiling with dozens of family members.

He captioned it 'Happy 96th to the World’s most amazing Gramma!!'