Rose Kennedy(1890-1995)
Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy was born Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald on July 22,
1890 to Josie Hannon and the future mayor of Boston, John Francis
Fitzgerald. She grew up with several brothers and sisters and thanks to
her father, the family was very well off. Rose went to a series of
Catholic Schools in Boston, and when she graduated her father presented
her diploma and their picture appeared in the newspaper. Rose wanted to
go to Wellesley Collage, but during that time her father was in the
middle of a scandal and needed the support of the Catholics of Boston
and said no to her going to a WASP school. Instead she, her parents,and
her sister went to Europe that summer so that the Fitzgeralds could get
their daughters into a Catholic boarding school in Holland.
The stay in Holland was a very difficult time for Rose. It was very
strict and English was not spoken, only French and German. She and her
sister spent about a year there before going home. Shortly after she
came home she re-met the son of one of her father's cronies, Joseph
Patrick Kennedy. They fell in love, but it was not until Joe, as he was
called, became a bank manager, did Honey Fitz (John Fitzgerald's
nickname) allow her to marry. Joe and Rose were married on October 7,
1914 and soon got busy making babies. First was Joe, Jr. in 1915, then
John Fitzgerald in 1917, Rosemary in 1918, Kathleen Agnes in 1920,
Eunice in 1921, Patricia in 1924, Robert Francis in 1925, Jean in 1928,
and Edward Moore in 1932. These years were far from easy for Rose. When
she was very pregnant with Kathleen she left Joe and went to live with
her parents for a while because she could not take it anymore. She went
back shortly before the birth. Also during this time she had to contend
with her absent husband. Joe was almost always away, either in
California with his mistress Gloria Swanson, or in New York making
money.
When the youngest of the Kennedy brood were young the family moved to
New York, so that they could be closer to Joe. Also during this time
Rose became the wife of the Ambassador to the Court of Saint James. Joe
had gotten president Franklin Roosevelt to appoint him the ambassador
to the Court of Saint James and soon had his family over to London in
waves. Joe and Rose were only in London for a short time thought before
World War Two began and Rose and the children went back to the United
States. Shortly after, Joe wanted out and he gave a speech that said
that Democracy might be gone in England and maybe in the United States,
as well, that ended his political career. During this time Rose watched
as her children helped in World War Two. Joe, Jr. was an aviator in
England and was killed when his plane exploded in 1944. John (Jack) was
on a boat in the Pacific, and Kathleen was a nurse for the red cross in
London.
During the war, Rose had problems with Kathleen who was in London.
Kathleen wanted to marry William Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington, a
Protestant. Rose, a devout Catholic, was very upset at this and felt it
was divine intervention when months after their marriage William died
fighting in World War Two. She was also mad when she heard that
Kathleen was set on marrying a not yet divorced Protestant in 1948 and
also felt that it was divine intervention when the plane that they were
in crashed killing everybody on board in May 1948.
After these tragedies Rose helped her family. She campaigned for her
sons John and Robert and watched as her children married and had
grandchildren. She was thrilled in 1961 when her son John became the
35th President of the United States and since John's wife Jacqueline
had just given birth, Rose and her daughters Pat, and Eunice, as well
as her daughter-in-law Ethel (the wife of Robert) helped host some of
the events that were held at the White House.
While this was going on another tragedy happened. Joe had a stroke and
was partially paralyzed. Then came November 22, 1963 when President
Kennedy was assassinated and the 1968 assassination of Robert Kennedy,
as well as the 1969 scandal involving son Edward in Chappaquidick.
Shortly after that scandal Joe died.
Rose spent the rest of her life in relative peace. She watched her
grandchildren grow up, some getting married and giving her great
grandchildren before dying at the ripe old age of 104 on January 22,
1995. Luckily she died before seeing the death and scandals associated
with her grandchildren: JFK Jr, Michael Kennedy, and divorce scandal of
Kerry Kennedy Cuomo.
1890 to Josie Hannon and the future mayor of Boston, John Francis
Fitzgerald. She grew up with several brothers and sisters and thanks to
her father, the family was very well off. Rose went to a series of
Catholic Schools in Boston, and when she graduated her father presented
her diploma and their picture appeared in the newspaper. Rose wanted to
go to Wellesley Collage, but during that time her father was in the
middle of a scandal and needed the support of the Catholics of Boston
and said no to her going to a WASP school. Instead she, her parents,and
her sister went to Europe that summer so that the Fitzgeralds could get
their daughters into a Catholic boarding school in Holland.
The stay in Holland was a very difficult time for Rose. It was very
strict and English was not spoken, only French and German. She and her
sister spent about a year there before going home. Shortly after she
came home she re-met the son of one of her father's cronies, Joseph
Patrick Kennedy. They fell in love, but it was not until Joe, as he was
called, became a bank manager, did Honey Fitz (John Fitzgerald's
nickname) allow her to marry. Joe and Rose were married on October 7,
1914 and soon got busy making babies. First was Joe, Jr. in 1915, then
John Fitzgerald in 1917, Rosemary in 1918, Kathleen Agnes in 1920,
Eunice in 1921, Patricia in 1924, Robert Francis in 1925, Jean in 1928,
and Edward Moore in 1932. These years were far from easy for Rose. When
she was very pregnant with Kathleen she left Joe and went to live with
her parents for a while because she could not take it anymore. She went
back shortly before the birth. Also during this time she had to contend
with her absent husband. Joe was almost always away, either in
California with his mistress Gloria Swanson, or in New York making
money.
When the youngest of the Kennedy brood were young the family moved to
New York, so that they could be closer to Joe. Also during this time
Rose became the wife of the Ambassador to the Court of Saint James. Joe
had gotten president Franklin Roosevelt to appoint him the ambassador
to the Court of Saint James and soon had his family over to London in
waves. Joe and Rose were only in London for a short time thought before
World War Two began and Rose and the children went back to the United
States. Shortly after, Joe wanted out and he gave a speech that said
that Democracy might be gone in England and maybe in the United States,
as well, that ended his political career. During this time Rose watched
as her children helped in World War Two. Joe, Jr. was an aviator in
England and was killed when his plane exploded in 1944. John (Jack) was
on a boat in the Pacific, and Kathleen was a nurse for the red cross in
London.
During the war, Rose had problems with Kathleen who was in London.
Kathleen wanted to marry William Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington, a
Protestant. Rose, a devout Catholic, was very upset at this and felt it
was divine intervention when months after their marriage William died
fighting in World War Two. She was also mad when she heard that
Kathleen was set on marrying a not yet divorced Protestant in 1948 and
also felt that it was divine intervention when the plane that they were
in crashed killing everybody on board in May 1948.
After these tragedies Rose helped her family. She campaigned for her
sons John and Robert and watched as her children married and had
grandchildren. She was thrilled in 1961 when her son John became the
35th President of the United States and since John's wife Jacqueline
had just given birth, Rose and her daughters Pat, and Eunice, as well
as her daughter-in-law Ethel (the wife of Robert) helped host some of
the events that were held at the White House.
While this was going on another tragedy happened. Joe had a stroke and
was partially paralyzed. Then came November 22, 1963 when President
Kennedy was assassinated and the 1968 assassination of Robert Kennedy,
as well as the 1969 scandal involving son Edward in Chappaquidick.
Shortly after that scandal Joe died.
Rose spent the rest of her life in relative peace. She watched her
grandchildren grow up, some getting married and giving her great
grandchildren before dying at the ripe old age of 104 on January 22,
1995. Luckily she died before seeing the death and scandals associated
with her grandchildren: JFK Jr, Michael Kennedy, and divorce scandal of
Kerry Kennedy Cuomo.