Thaindian News

HYANNIS, Massachusetts (BNO NEWS) — The woman who helped found the Special Olympics in the 1960s and the sister of former president John F. Kennedy, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, died on Tuesday morning, her family said. She was 88 years old.

“It’s hard for us to believe, the amazing Eunice Kennedy Shriver went home to God this morning at 2 a.m. [local time],” Shriver’s family said in a statement. “She was the light of our lives, a mother, wife, grandmother, sister and aunt who taught us by example and with passion what it means to live a faith-driven life of love and service to others.”

Shriver died at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, Massachusetts, surrounded by her family. Near her at the time of her death were her husband, R. Sargent Shriver; her five children: Robert “Bobby” Sargent Shriver III, Maria Owings Shriver, Timothy Perry Shriver, Mark Kennedy Shriver and Anthony Paul Kennedy Shriver, as well as their spouses and all of her nineteen grandchildren.

Shriver was, besides being the younger sister of the late President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the founder and honorary chairperson of the Special Olympics, and executive vice president of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation. “She has been a leader in the worldwide movement to improve and to enhance the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities for more than six decades,” said Kirsten Seckler, who is a spokeswoman for the Special Olympics.

Shriver was born on July 10, 1921 in Brookline, Massachusetts. She was the fifth of nine children of Joseph P. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Standford University along with numerous other honors and awards. In 2006, Pope Benedict XVI bestowed upon her the title of Dame of the papal Order of St. Gregory the Great.

“For each of us, she often seemed to stop time itself - to run another Special Olympics games, to visit us in our homes, to attend to her own mother, her sisters and brothers, and to sail, tell stories, and laugh and serve her friends. How did she do it?,” her family asked.

“Inspired by her love of God, her devotion to her family, and her relentless belief in the dignity and worth of every human life, she worked without ceasing - searching, pushing, demanding, hoping for change,” the statement continued. “She was a living prayer, a living advocate, a living center of power. She set out to change the world and to change us, and she did that and more. She founded the movement that became Special Olympics, the largest movement for acceptance and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities in the history of the world. Her work transformed the lives of hundreds of millions of people across the globe, and they in turn are her living legacy.”

“We have always been honored to share our mother with people of good will the world over who believe, as she did, that there is no limit to the human spirit. At this time of loss, we feel overwhelmed by the gifts of prayer and support poured out to us from so many who loved her. We are together in our belief that she is now in heaven, rejoicing with her family, enjoying the fruits of her faith, and still urging us onward to the challenges ahead. Her love will inspire us to faith and service always.”

“She was forever devoted to the Blessed Mother. May she be welcomed now by Mary to the joy and love of life everlasting, in the certain truth that her love and spirit will live forever,” the family concluded.

“We are tremendously grateful for the extreme outpouring of support and prayer from the public as we honor our beloved founder,” said Special Olympics President and COO Brady Lum. “Today we celebrate the life of a woman who had the vision to create our movement. It is an enormous loss, but I know we can rest assured that her legacy will live on through her family, friends, and the millions of people around the world who she touched and transformed. In her memory, we will continue to work to bring her powerful vision to life to change the lives of those with intellectual disabilities, their families and communities, using sports as the catalyst for respect, acceptance and inclusion.”

Shriver is survived by her husband of 56 years, R. Sargent Shriver Jr.; her five children; and her nineteen grandchildren who range in age from two months old to twenty-two years.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Special Olympics, www.specialolympics.com, and Best Buddies, www.bestbuddies.org. Condolence cards may be sent to the Special Olympics headquarters: 1133 19th Street NW, Washington D.C., 20036. People are also able to visit www.eunicekennedyshriver.org to share a tribute online.

Tribute areas have also been set up at the Special Olympics Headquarters in Washington, D.C., The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum in Boston and the JFK Museum in Hyannis, Massachusetts.

Details about the funeral and memorial services will be announced at a later date.