“She had a great 23 years, but who would have thought the last five years would be the best,” her mother, Lisa McGovern, said during Molly’s eulogy
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Massachusetts Congressman Jim McGovern’s daughter Molly McGovern, who died suddenly in April, experienced nausea during a dinner with her friends while vacationing in Italy before her death.
The 23-year-old college student died on April 23 in Assisi, Italy, minutes after becoming nauseous while dining with friends, The Boston Globe reported in a new interview with her father published on Wednesday, May 7.
Her funeral was held Saturday, May 3, at St. Bernard’s Church in Worcester, Mass.
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The outlet also spoke to the politician in a phone interview days ahead of the funeral where he once again spoke of her love for the Pope and marginalized communities: “She’d also be saying, ‘What’s the deal? Why can’t women be cardinals?’ ”
McGovern, 65, spoke with the Globe before Molly’s funeral, sharing her love of Pope Francis and marginalized communities. “She’d also be saying, ‘What’s the deal? Why can’t women be cardinals?’ ” McGovern, whose district includes much of central Massachusetts, said.
When Molly was younger, a priest asked her what she wanted to do when she grew up, “And she said, ‘I want to be a cardinal,’ ” McGovern recalled.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Molly was a student at Northeastern University in Boston, studying political science and government, with a focus on international affairs.
Just after she turned 18, Molly was diagnosed with a rare cancer. Those who knew her best said she lived her last five years to the fullest.
“Her everyday necklace was a St. Francis medallion,” her mother, Lisa McGovern, said during Molly’s eulogy.
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“She had a great 23 years, but who would have thought the last five years would be the best,” Lisa continued. “There were little miracles everywhere.”
In addition to showing kindness to others, Molly was known for traveling the world — visiting places like Tasmania, Washington, D.C., Australia and Rome.
She also became friends with the Pelosi family in recent years, sending Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul Pelosi cards to lift his spirits after he was assaulted at home in 2022.
Molly and Pelosi, 85, had been texting the same day she died, as they discussed the former U.S. House Speaker’s plans to travel to Italy for Pope Francis’ funeral.
“I think his holiness, who was so saintly, decided he wanted another angel in heaven. And that would be Molly, because she was so good,” Nancy told Jim after his daughter’s death, per the Globe
