The Brief

The first wife of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, Joan Kennedy, died Wednesday at the age of 89.

She worked for the mentally challenged and other causes but also struggled with mental health issues and alcoholism herself for much of her life.

Her son Patrick Kennedy praised her as a classically trained pianist and advocate for addiction recovery who helped break stigma and inspired others to seek help.

Joan Kennedy, the first wife of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, died Wednesday at the age of 89.

What they're saying:

Her family announced her death in a statement to the Associated Press, and a local obituary from her home in Boston was also published Wednesday.

"Mrs. Kennedy was a classically trained pianist, an advocate for mental health and addiction recovery, and a qui

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