Joan Kennedy

[Raven]

A beautiful, wonderful woman who stood by her husband during his worst ordeal. I'm weeping this morning to see her at Mission Church showing the terrible signs of a ravaging disease. It must be a huge effort for her to be there for her children.

[JeanGrey]

1. As I said, I have always felt the sorriest for the Kennedy

women.

[Raven]

2. Yes and sadly, Joan had the worst part of Ted's life.

[JeanGrey]

3. Look what it did to her.

[Raven]

4. I'm not sure "it" did it to her. I think she had a problem early on. But

some of these life events surely didn't help. Today, it looks like she's probably on some heavy medication. It just makes me very, very sad.

[JeanGrey]

7. It is very hard to find an "undestroyed" Kennedy woman.

I felt sorry for each and every one of them.

[elleng]

17. Both of her parents are/were alcoholic.

[monmouth]

6. The Botox is not helpful. She was a beauty at one time...n/t

[Riley18]

5. She seems to be holding her own today. It is brave of her to be there for her kids.

I cannot imagine how it would feel to sit there after 25 years and three kids together, and have to listen to everyone say that Vicki was the love of his life. Nothing against Vicki. Joan and Ted were divorced for 10 years when he met Vicki.

[JeanGrey]

8. It reminds me of when a famous person usually gets on TV

in an interview, after he's dumped wife number 1 for younger, tighter wife No. 2 and had another baby when he's pushing 60 or higher, and then says "I was a terrible father the first time. I had my career to think about. THIS time I'm going to be a good father".

Bet that made the kids from his first marriage feel like total shit.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

12. I cannot imagine how hurtful it was for Joan to hear that. I kept thinking about

her every time it was mentioned.

[maxpower]

9. Never a mention of her

I too felt bad. What disease is she suffering from?


Peace
Max

[Sannum]

11. Chronic Alchoholism

The family went to court some time ago to appoint a guardian for her financial affairs. I believe she is also required by the court to have 24/7 supervision by a team of "minders".

[Hekate]

13. It's sad, but the family has the means and the compassion to see she is taken care of.

For that I am glad.

I'm not sure it's botox that's done this to her face -- I think it's the alcoholism.

Hekate

[maxpower]

15. So sad

Peace
Max

[EFerrari]

14. Whoever was celebrating the Mass did mention her. And it was

about time, too.

[Hekate]

19. I noticed that too. Joan was mentioned among the mourners, very kindly I thought.

She just looks so fragile. I don't think she wants to be out in front at all, just not forgotten. I remember when she was found passed out in the snow and her adult kids were granted conservatorship over her affairs. You have to be in pretty bad shape for that to happen.

Hekate

[dancingme]

10. It was nice that Patrick walked her in to the church

But then she seemed lost before the rest of the Kennedy's got there. She walked over to greet the presidents and kind of hung on to Hillary, saying something in Hillary's ear. The look on Hillary's face was not good, as if she couldn't understand what Joan was saying. It was sad.

[elleng]

16. Saw her introducing herself to bush.

[Blue Diadem]

18. I thought she looked pretty good. She's 72 now and has been sober

since 2005 according to this article which includes a picture of her as well.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/TedKennedy/story?id=8428638

[Raine]

21. Interesting article

THANKS for the link.

[LibDemAlways]

20. She was by his side during some of the worst days of his life.

She was the mother of his children. I was sad that her role in his life was not acknowledged except in a fleeting reference by the priest who presided at the funeral mass. I realize it's an awkward situation, but I felt very bad for her.