The winter morning in Manhattan carried a biting chill, but the air around the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola on the Upper East Side was heavy with a stillness that transcended the weather. On January 5, 2026, the iron gates of the historic church opened to receive a gathering of the Kennedy and Schlossberg families—a lineage inextricably woven into the fabric of American history—who had come to perform the most agonizing of human rites: saying a final goodbye to a young mother, a brilliant writer, and a beloved daughter.
Caroline Kennedy, the former United States Ambassador and the last surviving child of President John F. Kennedy, walked toward the stone steps with a stoicism that has become her trademark. In her arms, she held her young granddaughter, a poignant image of the cycle of life continuing even in the shadow of profound loss. Beside her stood her husband, Edwin Schlossberg, and their children, Jack and Rose. They were joined by a small, somber circle of friends and dignitaries, including former President Joe Biden, who arrived quietly to offer his respects to a family that has endured more than its fair share of public and private tragedy.
Continue reading next page…