Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy
Encyclopedia
Rose Elizabeth Kennedy was the wife of Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.
and the mother of nine children, among them United States President John F. Kennedy
, United States Senator Robert F. Kennedy
, and United States Senator Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy
.
neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, Rose Fitzgerald was the eldest child of John F. "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald
and his wife, who was also his second cousin, Mary Josephine Hannon. "Honey Fitz" was a prominent figure in Boston
politics and served one full term and almost eight months of another in the U.S. House of Representatives
, as well as two terms as the Mayor of Boston.
As a young child, Fitzgerald lived in an Italianate/Mansard-style home in the Ashmont Hill section of Dorchester, Massachusetts
and attended the local Girl's Latin School. The home later burned down, but a plaque at Welles Avenue and Harley Street proclaims "Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Square". The plaque was dedicated by her son, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, on Rose's 102nd birthday in 1992.
Rose studied at the convent school Kasteel Bloemendal in Vaals
, The Netherlands, and graduated from Dorchester High School in 1906. She also attended the New England Conservatory in Boston
where she studied piano. After being refused permission by her father to attend Wellesley College, Fitzgerald enrolled at the Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart
(as it was known at that time). In 1908, Fitzgerald and her father embarked on a tour of Europe. She and "Honey Fitz" had a private audience with Pope Pius X at the Vatican
.
after a courtship of more than seven years. They first lived in a home in Brookline
that is now the John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
. Rose and Joseph had nine children.
Rose Kennedy was widowed in November 1969 by the death of her husband Joseph P. Kennedy
. She outlived four of her nine children - Joseph Jr died in 1944, Kathleen in 1948, John in 1963 and Robert in 1968. The deaths of Edward Kennedy and Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 2009 left Jean (by then aged 81) as the last surviving child of Joseph and Rose Kennedy. Rose's mother died at the age of 98, just eight months after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
Her husband provided well for her and their family, but was unfaithful
. While eight months pregnant with their fourth child, Kennedy went back to her parents. When she got home her father clearly reminded her that she was Catholic and that they did not believe in divorce, so she was going to have to live with her choice of Joseph P. Kennedy for a husband. She went back to him, and presented a stoic outlook to one and all, in spite of his dalliances, one of which involved film star Gloria Swanson
, who once said, "that Rose must be a saint, a fool, or just a better actress than me."
Rose considered the purpose of sex to be procreation and pretended that her husband's affairs were not taking place although she knew about them. She was medicated—her husband's biographer Ronald Kessler
found records for prescription tranquilizers Seconal, Placidyl, Librium, and Dalmane to relieve Rose's nervousness and stress, and for her stomach, Lomotil
, Bentyl, Librax
and Tagamet.
Rose Kennedy's strict Roman Catholic religion often placed her at odds with her children, most notably daughter Kathleen. She refused to attend Kathleen's wedding to William Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington, an Anglican and the eldest son and heir of the 10th Duke of Devonshire on May 6, 1944. Normal relations eventually resumed, particularly given the deaths of both Cavendish and Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., during World War II. When Lady Hartington herself died in a plane crash in 1948 (in which her new fiance, the 8th Earl FitzWilliam
, a divorced Anglican, was also killed), only her father attended her funeral and burial at the Devonshire family seat, as he had already been in Europe planning to meet the Marchioness and her boyfriend.
Rosemary Kennedy
died on January 7, 2005 at the age of 86, Patricia Kennedy Lawford
died on September 17, 2006 at the age of 82, Eunice Kennedy Shriver
died on August 11, 2009, aged 88, and Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy
died on August 25, 2009, aged 77.
She maintained her residence at the Kennedy Compound
in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts
and was cared for by private nurses and staff. On January 22, 1995, Kennedy died from complications from pneumonia
at the age of 104, outliving four of her nine children, her son-in-law Stephen Edward Smith
, her daughter-in-law, Jackie Kennedy, and two grandchildren, David Anthony Kennedy and Patrick Bouvier Kennedy.
granted Kennedy the title of Roman countess in recognition of her "exemplary motherhood and many charitable works."
In 1992, when she turned 102, the intersection of Welles Avenue and Harley Street in Boston was proclaimed "Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Square". The plaque was dedicated by her son, Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Also, the Rose Kennedy Greenway
in Boston, Massachusetts – the park that was created when the city's Central Artery
was sunk below ground level in the "Big Dig
" – was named after her on July 26, 2004.
Well-known for her philanthropic
efforts and for leading the Grandparents' Parade at age 90 at the Special Olympics
, Kennedy's life and work are documented in the Oscar-nominated short documentary Rose Kennedy: A Life to Remember
.
Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.
Joseph Patrick "Joe" Kennedy, Sr. was a prominent American businessman, investor, and government official....
and the mother of nine children, among them United States President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, United States Senator Robert F. Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy
Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
, and United States Senator Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy
Ted Kennedy
Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. Serving almost 47 years, he was the second most senior member of the Senate when he died and is the fourth-longest-serving senator in United States history...
.
Early life
Born in the North EndNorth End, Boston, Massachusetts
The North End is a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It has the distinction of being the city's oldest residential community, where people have lived continuously since it was settled in the 1630s. Though small , the neighborhood has approximately 100 eating establishments, and a variety of...
neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, Rose Fitzgerald was the eldest child of John F. "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald
John F. Fitzgerald
John Francis "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald was an Irish-American politician and the maternal grandfather of three prominent United States politicians—President John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Senators Robert Francis Kennedy and Edward Moore Kennedy.-Early life and family:Fitzgerald was born in...
and his wife, who was also his second cousin, Mary Josephine Hannon. "Honey Fitz" was a prominent figure in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
politics and served one full term and almost eight months of another in the U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, as well as two terms as the Mayor of Boston.
As a young child, Fitzgerald lived in an Italianate/Mansard-style home in the Ashmont Hill section of Dorchester, Massachusetts
Dorchester, Massachusetts
Dorchester is a dissolved municipality and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is named after the town of Dorchester in the English county of Dorset, from which Puritans emigrated and is today endearingly nicknamed "Dot" by its residents. Dorchester, including a large...
and attended the local Girl's Latin School. The home later burned down, but a plaque at Welles Avenue and Harley Street proclaims "Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Square". The plaque was dedicated by her son, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, on Rose's 102nd birthday in 1992.
Rose studied at the convent school Kasteel Bloemendal in Vaals
Vaals
Vaals is a town in the extreme southeastern part of the Dutch province of Limburg, which in its turn finds itself in the southeastern part of the Netherlands....
, The Netherlands, and graduated from Dorchester High School in 1906. She also attended the New England Conservatory in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
where she studied piano. After being refused permission by her father to attend Wellesley College, Fitzgerald enrolled at the Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart
Manhattanville College
Manhattanville College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, located in Purchase, New York. Founded in 1841 it was known initially as Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart...
(as it was known at that time). In 1908, Fitzgerald and her father embarked on a tour of Europe. She and "Honey Fitz" had a private audience with Pope Pius X at the Vatican
Apostolic Palace
The Apostolic Palace is the official residence of the Pope, which is located in Vatican City. It is also known as the Sacred Palace, the Papal Palace and the Palace of the Vatican...
.
Marriage
On October 7, 1914, she married Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.
Joseph Patrick "Joe" Kennedy, Sr. was a prominent American businessman, investor, and government official....
after a courtship of more than seven years. They first lived in a home in Brookline
Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
that is now the John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site, located in Brookline, Massachusetts' Coolidge Corner neighborhood, is a historical site that commemorates the life of President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963...
. Rose and Joseph had nine children.
Rose Kennedy was widowed in November 1969 by the death of her husband Joseph P. Kennedy
Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.
Joseph Patrick "Joe" Kennedy, Sr. was a prominent American businessman, investor, and government official....
. She outlived four of her nine children - Joseph Jr died in 1944, Kathleen in 1948, John in 1963 and Robert in 1968. The deaths of Edward Kennedy and Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 2009 left Jean (by then aged 81) as the last surviving child of Joseph and Rose Kennedy. Rose's mother died at the age of 98, just eight months after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
Her husband provided well for her and their family, but was unfaithful
Infidelity
In many intimate relationships in many cultures there is usually an express or implied expectation of exclusivity, especially in sexual matters. Infidelity most commonly refers to a breach of the expectation of sexual exclusivity.Infidelity can occur in relation to physical intimacy and/or...
. While eight months pregnant with their fourth child, Kennedy went back to her parents. When she got home her father clearly reminded her that she was Catholic and that they did not believe in divorce, so she was going to have to live with her choice of Joseph P. Kennedy for a husband. She went back to him, and presented a stoic outlook to one and all, in spite of his dalliances, one of which involved film star Gloria Swanson
Gloria Swanson
Gloria Swanson was an American actress, singer and producer. She was one of the most prominent stars during the silent film era as both an actress and a fashion icon, especially under the direction of Cecil B. DeMille, made dozens of silents and was nominated for the first Academy Award in the...
, who once said, "that Rose must be a saint, a fool, or just a better actress than me."
Rose considered the purpose of sex to be procreation and pretended that her husband's affairs were not taking place although she knew about them. She was medicated—her husband's biographer Ronald Kessler
Ronald Kessler
Ronald Borek Kessler is an American journalist and author of 19 non-fiction books. He is chief Washington, D.C. correspondent of the conservative news and commentary website Newsmax.com.-Personal life:Kessler was born in New York City in 1943...
found records for prescription tranquilizers Seconal, Placidyl, Librium, and Dalmane to relieve Rose's nervousness and stress, and for her stomach, Lomotil
Lomotil
The drug combination diphenoxylate/atropine is a popular oral anti-diarrheal in the United States, manufactured by Pfizer. Its UK BAN generic name is co-phenotrope....
, Bentyl, Librax
Librax
Librax is a drug consisting of chlordiazepoxide and clidinium bromide and used to treat peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome , and gastritis. It helps relieve stomach spasms, abdominal cramps, and anxiety related to gastric disorders...
and Tagamet.
Rose Kennedy's strict Roman Catholic religion often placed her at odds with her children, most notably daughter Kathleen. She refused to attend Kathleen's wedding to William Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington, an Anglican and the eldest son and heir of the 10th Duke of Devonshire on May 6, 1944. Normal relations eventually resumed, particularly given the deaths of both Cavendish and Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., during World War II. When Lady Hartington herself died in a plane crash in 1948 (in which her new fiance, the 8th Earl FitzWilliam
Peter Wentworth-FitzWilliam, 8th Earl FitzWilliam
William Henry Lawrence Peter Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, 8th Earl Fitzwilliam, DSO , styled Viscount Milton before 1943, was a British soldier and aristocrat.-Biography:...
, a divorced Anglican, was also killed), only her father attended her funeral and burial at the Devonshire family seat, as he had already been in Europe planning to meet the Marchioness and her boyfriend.
Rosemary Kennedy
Rosemary Kennedy
Rose Marie "Rosemary" Kennedy was the third child and first daughter of Rose Elizabeth Kennedy née Fitzgerald and Joseph Patrick Kennedy, Sr., born little more than a year after her brother, future U.S. President John F. Kennedy...
died on January 7, 2005 at the age of 86, Patricia Kennedy Lawford
Patricia Kennedy Lawford
Patricia "Pat" Kennedy Lawford was an American socialite and the sixth of nine children of Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald, sister to President John F. Kennedy, Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Edward M...
died on September 17, 2006 at the age of 82, Eunice Kennedy Shriver
Eunice Kennedy Shriver
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, DSG a member of the Kennedy family, sister to President John F. Kennedy and Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Edward Kennedy, was the founder in 1962 of Camp Shriver, and in 1968, the Special Olympics...
died on August 11, 2009, aged 88, and Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy
Ted Kennedy
Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. Serving almost 47 years, he was the second most senior member of the Senate when he died and is the fourth-longest-serving senator in United States history...
died on August 25, 2009, aged 77.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Brief Biography | Marriage | Cause of death |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Patrick Kennedy, Jr. Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Joseph Patrick "Joe" Kennedy, Jr. was an American bomber pilot during World War II. He was the eldest of nine children born to Joseph Patrick Kennedy, Sr., and Rose Elizabeth Kennedy.... |
July 25, 1915 | August 12, 1944 | |United States Navy United States Navy The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S... aviator Aviator An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne... |
| Naval airplane crash on August 12, 1944 over the English Channel English Channel The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover... |
|
| John Fitzgerald Kennedy John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963.... |
May 29, 1917 | November 22, 1963 | United States Representative United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution... (1947–1953) United States Senator United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each... (1953–1960) President of the United States President of the United States The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces.... (1961–1963) |
September 12, 1953 to Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Jacqueline Lee Bouvier "Jackie" Kennedy Onassis was the wife of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, and served as First Lady of the United States during his presidency from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. Five years later she married Greek shipping magnate Aristotle... . |
Assassinated John F. Kennedy assassination John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States, was assassinated at 12:30 p.m. Central Standard Time on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas... on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States... by Lee Harvey Oswald Lee Harvey Oswald Lee Harvey Oswald was, according to four government investigations,These were investigations by: the Federal Bureau of Investigation , the Warren Commission , the House Select Committee on Assassinations , and the Dallas Police Department. the sniper who assassinated John F... . |
| Rosemary Kennedy Rosemary Kennedy Rose Marie "Rosemary" Kennedy was the third child and first daughter of Rose Elizabeth Kennedy née Fitzgerald and Joseph Patrick Kennedy, Sr., born little more than a year after her brother, future U.S. President John F. Kennedy... |
September 13, 1918 | January 7, 2005 | Underwent a lobotomy Lobotomy Lobotomy "; τομή – tomē: "cut/slice") is a neurosurgical procedure, a form of psychosurgery, also known as a leukotomy or leucotomy . It consists of cutting the connections to and from the prefrontal cortex, the anterior part of the frontal lobes of the brain... in 1941 which left her incapacitated; she was institutionalized from 1949 until her death. |
Natural causes | |
| Kathleen Agnes Kennedy | February 20, 1920 | May 13, 1948 | Marchioness of Hartington | Married on May 6, 1944 to William Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington. | Airplane crash over Saint-Bauzile, Ardèche Saint-Bauzile, Ardèche Saint-Bauzile is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France.-Population:-References:*... , France. |
| Eunice Mary Kennedy Eunice Kennedy Shriver Eunice Kennedy Shriver, DSG a member of the Kennedy family, sister to President John F. Kennedy and Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Edward Kennedy, was the founder in 1962 of Camp Shriver, and in 1968, the Special Olympics... |
July 10, 1921 | August 11, 2009 | International advocate for the developmentally disabled. Founded the Special Olympics. | Married on May 23, 1953 to Robert Sargent Shriver Sargent Shriver Robert Sargent Shriver, Jr., known as Sargent Shriver, R. Sargent Shriver, or, from childhood, Sarge, was an American statesman and activist. As the husband of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, he was part of the Kennedy family, serving in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations... . |
Natural causes |
| Patricia Kennedy Patricia Kennedy Lawford Patricia "Pat" Kennedy Lawford was an American socialite and the sixth of nine children of Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald, sister to President John F. Kennedy, Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Edward M... |
May 6, 1924 | September 17, 2006 | Married on April 24, 1954 to British actor Peter Lawford Peter Lawford Peter Sydney Ernest Aylen , better known as Peter Lawford, was an English-American actor.He was a member of the "Rat Pack", and brother-in-law to US President John F. Kennedy, perhaps more noted in later years for his off-screen activities as a celebrity than for his acting... ; divorced in 1966. |
Complications from pneumonia Pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes... |
|
| Robert Francis Kennedy Robert F. Kennedy Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F... |
November 20, 1925 | June 6, 1968 | United States Attorney General United States Attorney General The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government... (1961–1964), United States Senator (1965–1968) |
Married on June 17, 1950 to Ethel Skakel Ethel Skakel Kennedy Ethel Skakel Kennedy is the widow of Robert F. Kennedy, who served as Attorney General of the United States and a United States Senator for the state of New York.-Early life:... . |
Assassinated in 1968 in Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, California Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California... by Sirhan Sirhan Sirhan Sirhan Sirhan Bishara Sirhan is a Jordanian citizen who was convicted for the assassination of United States Senator Robert F. Kennedy. He is serving a life sentence at Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga, California.Sirhan was a Christian Arab born in Jerusalem who strongly opposed Israel... . |
| Jean Ann Kennedy Jean Kennedy Smith Jean Ann Kennedy Smith is an American diplomat and a former United States Ambassador to Ireland. She is the eighth of nine children born to Joseph Patrick Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald and is their last surviving child. She is the sister of the 35th U.S. President, John F. Kennedy,... |
February 20, 1928 | United States Ambassador to Ireland United States Ambassador to Ireland There have been a total of 30 Ambassadors of the United States to Ireland meaning the Republic of Ireland. All except one, Frederick A. Sterling, have been non-career appointees, while there were three under President George W. Bush.-List of Ambassadors:... (1993–1998) |
Married on May 19, 1956 to Stephen Edward Smith Stephen Edward Smith Stephen Edward Smith was the husband of Jean Ann Kennedy. He was a financial analyst and political strategist in the 1960 United States Presidential campaign of his brother-in-law, John F. Kennedy.-Biography:... . |
||
| Edward Moore " Ted" Kennedy Ted Kennedy Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. Serving almost 47 years, he was the second most senior member of the Senate when he died and is the fourth-longest-serving senator in United States history... |
February 22, 1932 | August 25, 2009 | United States Senator United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each... (1962–2009) |
Married on November 29, 1958 to Virginia Joan Bennett Joan Bennett Kennedy Joan Bennett Kennedy is an American musician, writer, and former model. She is the former wife of U.S. Senator from Massachusetts Edward "Ted" Moore Kennedy.-Early life:... ; divorced on December 6, 1982. Remarried in 1992 to Victoria Anne Reggie Victoria Reggie Kennedy Victoria Reggie "Vicki" Kennedy is an American lawyer and the widow of U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy.-Early life and education:... . |
Brain cancer |
Later years and death
In 1984, at the age of 94, Kennedy suffered a severe stroke and had to use a wheelchair for the rest of her life.She maintained her residence at the Kennedy Compound
Kennedy Compound
The Kennedy Compound or Hyannis Port Historic District is the name given to six acres of waterfront property on Cape Cod along Nantucket Sound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, United States....
in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts
Hyannis Port, Massachusetts
Hyannis Port is a small residential village located in Barnstable, Massachusetts, and Hyannis, Massachusetts. It is an affluent summer community on Hyannis Harbor 1.4 miles to the south-southwest of Hyannis.-Community:...
and was cared for by private nurses and staff. On January 22, 1995, Kennedy died from complications from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
at the age of 104, outliving four of her nine children, her son-in-law Stephen Edward Smith
Stephen Edward Smith
Stephen Edward Smith was the husband of Jean Ann Kennedy. He was a financial analyst and political strategist in the 1960 United States Presidential campaign of his brother-in-law, John F. Kennedy.-Biography:...
, her daughter-in-law, Jackie Kennedy, and two grandchildren, David Anthony Kennedy and Patrick Bouvier Kennedy.
Legacy
In 1951, Pope Pius XIIPope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
granted Kennedy the title of Roman countess in recognition of her "exemplary motherhood and many charitable works."
In 1992, when she turned 102, the intersection of Welles Avenue and Harley Street in Boston was proclaimed "Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Square". The plaque was dedicated by her son, Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Also, the Rose Kennedy Greenway
Rose Kennedy Greenway
The Rose Kennedy Greenway is a roughly 1.5-mile-long long series of parks and public spaces being created in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, USA. It is the final part of the Big Dig that put Interstate 93 underground and removed the elevated freeway that served as the main highway through downtown...
in Boston, Massachusetts – the park that was created when the city's Central Artery
Central Artery
The John F. Fitzgerald Expressway, known locally as the Central Artery, is a section of freeway in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, designated as Interstate 93, U.S. Route 1 and Route 3. It was initially constructed in the 1950s as a partly elevated and partly tunneled divided highway...
was sunk below ground level in the "Big Dig
Big Dig
The Central Artery/Tunnel Project , known unofficially as the Big Dig and as the Big Dug since completion, was a megaproject in Boston that rerouted the Central Artery , the chief highway through the heart of the city, into a 3.5-mile tunnel...
" – was named after her on July 26, 2004.
Well-known for her philanthropic
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
efforts and for leading the Grandparents' Parade at age 90 at the Special Olympics
Special Olympics
Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 countries....
, Kennedy's life and work are documented in the Oscar-nominated short documentary Rose Kennedy: A Life to Remember
Rose Kennedy: A Life to Remember
Rose Kennedy: A Life To Remember is a short documentary directed by Terry Sanders and produced by Sanders with Freida Lee Mock. It was nominated for a "Documentary Short Subject" Academy Award in 1991....
.
In popular culture
- The Rose Kennedy CocktailRose Kennedy CocktailRose Kennedy is a cocktail popular in the mid-Atlantic and Northeastern Regions of The United States. It consists of varying amounts of Vodka and club soda with a splash of cranberry juice for color and taste. The juice sweetens the taste and takes the edge off the alcohol...
is a popular drink in bars in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States. - Kennedy was played by Michelle Trout in the film Lives and Deaths of the Poets (2011).
- Kennedy was played by Diana HardcastleDiana HardcastleDiana Hardcastle is a British actress who has appeared largely in television roles. She appeared in episodes of Midsomer Murders, Inspector Lynley and Taggart. She played recurring roles in the series First Among Equals and Fortunes of War....
in the television miniseries The KennedysThe KennedysThe Kennedys may refer to:*The Kennedy family, an American political family*The Kennedys , a German museum about the Kennedy family*The Kennedys , an American folk rock band...
(2011). - The American band RasputinaRasputinaRasputina is a cello-driven band based in New York that is renowned for their unconventional and quirky music style as well as their fascination with historical allegories and fashion, especially those pertaining to the Victorian era....
's song "Rose K." from their album "How We Quit the ForestHow We Quit the Forest-Credits and personnel:Rasputina* Melora Creager - Artwork, Cello, Producer, Vocals* Julia Kent - Cello* Agnieszka Rybska - CelloProduction and personnel* Chris Vrenna - Drums, Producer, Programming* Critter - Engineer, Mixing...
" is based on her life. - FrenchFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
chanteuse Patricia KaasPatricia KaasPatricia Kaas is a French singer and actress.Kaas is a very successful French-speaking singer, with an International following...
recorded a song, "Kennedy Rose," on her 1990 album Scène de vieScène de vieScène de vie is a studio album recorded by the French artist Patricia Kaas. It was her second album and was released in 1990. It confirmed the singer's potential, reaching the top of the albums chart in France.-Background:...
, which is very critical of the Kennedy family's ambitions for their sons.