Congressman Jim McGovern’s daughter Molly has passed away — the heartbreaking announcement just went public 😢 Her sudden death has left the community and political world in shock 😞 Full story and family tributes are in the comments below 👇v

What started off as a typical evening in a small Italian town full of friendliness and laughing turned into a tragedy that shocked a congressman’s family and had an impact on the entire country. 

Just minutes after having dinner and laughing with friends in Assisi, Italy, Molly McGovern, the 23-year-old daughter of Massachusetts Congressman Jim McGovern, passed very suddenly on April 23.

She vanished a few minutes later. Her final hour was a happy one, full of warmth, companionship, and life. Molly’s closest friends and family said she made their lives brighter. A lot of people said that knowing her was a silent gift that warmed their hearts and made an impression.

In a moving eulogy delivered at St. Bernard’s Church in Worcester, her mother, Lisa McGovern, reflected on the life her daughter embraced after her diagnosis. “She had a great 23 years, but who would have thought the last five years would be the best,” she said. “There were little miracles everywhere.”

Pelosi stated over the phone last week that she had spoken with Congressman Jim soon after hearing of the death of his daughter. She informed him that because of the goodness Molly brought to the world, she thought Pope Francis, who was well-known for his intense spirituality, might have been joined in heaven by another angel.

At Molly’s funeral, her father spoke with warmth and humor. “To be honest, my first thought was: ‘Oh my God, poor Pope Francis,’” he joked in his eulogy. He added that his daughter would likely be a livelier angel than the pontiff expected.