Mary Kennedy 52 found dead Estranged from Robert F Kennedy

A housekeeper found the body of Mary Richardson Kennedy, 52, after she had committed suicide at the family's Mount Kisco estate in Westchester County, New York.

Sources told The New York Times that the mother-of-four had left a suicide note, but its contents were not disclosed.

They had four children - Conor, Finny, Kyra, and Aidan - together, none of whom were home at the time of her death.

They range in age from 11 to 17 years old and spent the majority of time with their mother in New York while Robert Kennedy Jr had relocated to Los Angeles.

Her eldest children were away at boarding school and the youngest were with their father.

It was believed that Mrs Kennedy's funeral would be held on Saturday at St Patrick’s Church, Bedford before she would be buried at St. Francis Xavier Church in Hyannis, Massachusetts, according to HollywoodLife.com.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...x-wife-hanged-barn-NY-home.html#ixzz1vGWbeI2M

Snick1946 said:

Isn't it a bit unusual for a woman to kill herself by hanging? I am no expert but have researched lots of crimes and do not see this much if at all.

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Hanging oneself doesn't cause a bloody mess like shooting or cutting yourself with a knife would. She could have taken a drug overdose but I guess if you take a drug overdose there is always a chance you might wake up so she hung herself instead. jmo

I wonder if Mrs. Kennedy had ever attempted suicide before?

I suppose that if a person had tried suicide before (by taking drugs) but failed, he or she might decide to add hanging to the next overdose attempt to insure that if the drugs were insufficient to to kill, the hanging would seal the deal.

I'm still stuck on the fact that her youngest child of the four is only 11, the oldest 17. Their lives will be completely overturned. Would she really choose to do such an awful thing to her children?

A wake was planned for Friday evening, Kennedy family publicist Ken Sunshine said. It will take place in the Bedford mansion that Kennedy, an architect, and her husband lovingly restored into an eco-friendly home after flooding left it infested with black mold.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/18/us/new-york-kennedy-death/index.html

Wake for Mary Kennedy after Judge settles fight

The two sides of Mary Richardson Kennedy's grieving family faced off in court Friday, just hours before she was mourned at a wake at the estate where she committed suicide.

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/northern_suburbs&id=8666861

TGIRecovered said:

I wonder if Mrs. Kennedy had ever attempted suicide before?

I suppose that if a person had tried suicide before (by taking drugs) but failed, he or she might decide to add hanging to the next overdose attempt to insure that if the drugs were insufficient to to kill, the hanging would seal the deal.

I'm still stuck on the fact that her youngest child of the four is only 11, the oldest 17. Their lives will be completely overturned. Would she really choose to do such an awful thing to her children?

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There are no reports that Mary tried to kill herself before but drinking under the influence certainly raises a red flag.

Mary was mentally ill most of her adult life and her family was aware of it so they could have had her committed to a psychiatric facility without her consent or the Judge she appeared before could have had her committed as well.

The two eldest children were at boarding school when this tragedy occurred and the two youngest children were staying with their father in LA so after she was charged with DUI, she might have feared she would loose custody of her children. None of the reports say why the youngest children were staying with their dad.

I wonder who Mary's lawyer was?

<snipped>
Records in the couple's divorce case are sealed, but the public docket sheet showed that Robert Kennedy's lawyers had sought a contempt order in the case last summer, indicating a dispute between the two sides.

"A lot of times, I don't know how she made it through the day," Robert Kennedy told The New York Times. "She was in a lot of agony for a lot of her life."

Mary Kennedy killed herself after struggling for years with depression and alcohol.

"She struggled so hard, for so long, with mental illness, which so many Americans suffer with," Kerry Kennedy said in brief remarks to reporters Friday outside the church where the funeral was planned. "She fought with dignity, and in the end, the demons won."

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/18/us/new-york-kennedy-death/index.html

RFK Jr had moved on with his life, he was living in California. He had a glamorous (I have no idea who the heck she is in Hollywood)girlfriend. I think Kennedy men liked the blond starlets

Joe Sr shuttled back and forth between Rose and Goria Swanson. JFK and Robert ....I have read courted a vulnerable Marilyn Monroe & dropped her when they got what they wanted.

I think RFK oldest son Joe, married Sheila Rouch had twin sons divorced her ...asked for an annulment because of some dumb reason like "he didn't know his own mind". Joe (needed the annulment) because he wanted to marry (in the church)his second wife Beth.

Then,there's of course RFK Jr, who wanted an annulment from Emily Black,his 1st wife ....they had 2
children. RFK Jr,wanted to get hitched in the church ....his bride,Mary Richerson was six months
pregnant. I could continue but it's just more egotistical brutish behavior from the Kennedy men.
Mary was a loved mother,sister and daughter...boorish statements by a self
serving RFK Jr that she was so depressed for years....he didn't know how she was able to
function....is a disservice to his children and to Mary's friends and family. Could someone send a
memo to RFK Jr. that he should be respectful and grant dignity to her memory. .MOO

Just when you think somewhere there must be some decency in RFK Jr (out of respect for their childrens' grieving)...you read this..
Mary Kennedy suicide: Family criticizes media coverage.....
<snipped>
"It has also driven a wedge between the two families involved, according to the New York Daily
News, leading to plans for dueling memorial services. Robert Kennedy Jr. reportedly ordered Mary
Kennedy's sisters from the Bedford home when they arrived there this week following the suicide. The sisters had to seek a police escort in order to return to collect some of Mary Kennedy's personal papers, the Daily News reported."

Link
http://www.q13fox.com/news/nationworld/sns-la-na-nn-mary-kennedy-suicide-20120518,0,2639851.story

Maybe it's just me, but I think it was tacky that they (the Kennedy's) immediately released the fact that she had mental illness....was that ever publicized/rumored/mentioned before her suicide? Now there is fighting between the two families. What a mess.

P.S. thanks everyone for the updates and family info & history.....I had forgotten so many of these incidents.

Mary committed suicide 3 days after Mother&#8217;s Day.

I don't understand why Robert Kennedy&#8217;s lawyers filed a contempt order against Mary last summer. If Mary didn't want to grant Robert a divorce, would that cause a dispute?

<snipped>
Records in the couple's divorce case are sealed, but the public docket sheet showed that Robert Kennedy's lawyers had sought a contempt order in the case last summer, indicating a dispute between the two sides.

Mary's lawyer is Kerry Lawrence.

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2...-f-kennedy-jrs-estranged-wife-found-dead?lite

I don't know if any of this is true, but I hope and pray the Kennedy clan reaps EXACTLY what it sows, good or bad.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...e-long-struggle-depression.html#ixzz1vEukva8d

Read it and wonder.

Family and Friends Come together for Mary Kennedy&#8217;s Wake Despite Day of Legal Maneuvering

http://news.yahoo.com/video/newyork...espite-day-of-legal-maneuvering-29345236.html

Robert Kennedy and a lawyer for the Richardson family spent part of the day in court on Friday arguing the case, before Mary&#8217;s body was released to her husband just hours before her planned wake.

The couple&#8217;s children -- Conor Richardson, 18; Kyra LeMoyne, 17; William Finbar, 15; and Aiden Caohman Vieques, 11 -- were living with their father in nearby Katonah when they weren't away at boarding school. He had won temporary custody of the children.

Three of her four children read from the Bible. Actor Larry David and sister-in-law Kerry Kennedy offered remembrances. And Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who filed for divorce in 2010 from his second wife of 16 years, gave an emotional eulogy, saying he had feelings for Mary that he never had for anyone and will never have again.

http://www.newsday.com/mary-kennedy-remembered-as-kind-loving-1.3727470?qr=1

Blondie in Spokane said:

Maybe it's just me, but I think it was tacky that they (the Kennedy's) immediately released the fact that she had mental illness....was that ever publicized/rumored/mentioned before her suicide? Now there is fighting between the two families. What a mess.

P.S. thanks everyone for the updates and family info & history.....I had forgotten so many of these incidents.

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It reminds me a little too much of the Rebecca Z case with the immediate unflattering comments disguised as concern.

TGIRecovered said:

I wonder if Mrs. Kennedy had ever attempted suicide before?

I suppose that if a person had tried suicide before (by taking drugs) but failed, he or she might decide to add hanging to the next overdose attempt to insure that if the drugs were insufficient to to kill, the hanging would seal the deal.

I'm still stuck on the fact that her youngest child of the four is only 11, the oldest 17. Their lives will be completely overturned. Would she really choose to do such an awful thing to her children?

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I know nothing about Mrs. Kennedy and had never heard of her before this sad event.

But I believe some people get to a place where they genuinely feel they are so useless that their loved ones (including children) will be better off without them. It's a feeling not a logical conclusion. And it's heartbreaking, of course.

Trident said:

I don't know if any of this is true, but I hope and pray the Kennedy clan reaps EXACTLY what it sows, good or bad.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...e-long-struggle-depression.html#ixzz1vEukva8d

Read it and wonder.

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I have a feeling her struggles were made much more difficult by the actions of her husband. Call it a hunch, but I have a feeling that despite her attempts to heal, she was never allowed to do so. Someone was always there to bring her down again.

JMO.

Betty P said:

I have a feeling her struggles were made much more difficult by the actions of her husband. Call it a hunch, but I have a feeling that despite her attempts to heal, she was never allowed to do so. Someone was always there to bring her down again.

JMO.

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ITA, and based on various articles I've read, I believe this is how her family feels too.

Taking it a step further, would it really have been all that difficult to permit her family to bury her where they preferred? I realize the couple was still legally married, but...

If she had died after their divorce, then what? Would he have pushed so hard for her remains to rest in one of the family burial sites? Does he plan to put his first wife and any subsequent wives there too? UGH

ETA a few more thoughts to the last paragraph.

~jmo~

According to news reports, RFK, Jr. even threw her family (sisters) off the property when they arrived there the evening of her suicide. They had to go to the police to get permission to go into her house.

I feel badly for her, going through so much trouble to renovate the home to please him when he obviously didn't want to remain married. It sounds as though he hardly even lived there.

News reports also say she had been sober for 5 months, yet his family still keeps referring to her as being drunk. What a mental manipulator that guy must be. I'm a lifelong Democrat, but this story has turned me against RFK, Jr. and his family, for good.

The real curse of the Kennedys
It&#8217;s their treatment of women

By: Maureen Callahan

Snipped

Let&#8217;s just call it what it is: the natural fallout when you&#8217;re a member of a family riddled with entitled, underachieving drunks, drug addicts and adulterers, whose treatment of women is historically deplorable.

Snipped

The day after Mary Kennedy was found hanging in her barn, her estranged husband did what his family does best: sincerely insincere damage control.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinio...kennedys_oD8hoAIqjScISxTvboXfQO#ixzz1vQz9mY3Z

Boston University political historian Thomas Whalen said he didn't understand the reason behind the Cape burial, given the emotional blow she suffered from the breakdown of the marriage.

"If I was a member of his wife's family and I think looking on the outside, again we see that image of the Kennedys playing by a different set of rules," said Whalen.

Whalen said he also finds Robert Kennedy's reported decision to have a wake in the home where his soon-to-be ex-wife hanged herself inappropriate. Whalen wonders why the family couldn't have helped her more.

http://www.wcvb.com/news/politics/W...48766/13483890/-/item/1/-/ay0y0x/-/index.html

That story, really hit home, as to maybe the kind of life that she had with him, and if she did suffer from depression, which I am sure she did, and with the drinking and drugs to ease the pain, and help her cope, till eventually, I do believe, it is very hard for a person to go with out, these coping aids, till eventually they take over your life, and end up destroying everything that you believe in, so very sad, I had never heard her name before, so Robert, certainly paid some people to keep her name out of the paper, via Inter-net re her arrests, she must have been so very lonely, and felt so betrayed, as we shall never know what she she had to go through being married to him, and I guess that is one of the reason, he was still not divorced, he did not want her speaking, but let us face it, with his money, and the people that his family know, he could have gotten a divorce in a second!

Anyway, I feel sorry for the children, because this will be in the news for awhile, till the next sad story hits!