Molly McGovern, the daughter of Massachusetts Rep. James McGovern, passed away during a vacation in Italy.
The 23-year-old had dinner with her friends when she suddenly experienced nausea.
According to her family, Molly was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer shortly after turning 18 yet lived her life to the fullest despite the diagnosis.
“She had a great 23 years, but who would have thought the last five years would be the best,” her mother, Lisa McGovern, said at a eulogy for her daughter on Saturday at St. Bernard’s Church in Worcester. “There were little miracles everywhere.”
Rep. McGovern paid an emotional tribute to his daughter who passed away and was taken from him way too soon.
“Molly radiated pure joy. She lit up every room with her beaming smile — full of laughter, endless warmth, and a sharp wit that could disarm you in an instant,” he wrote in an Instagram post.
Molly was a student at Northeastern University where she pursued a bachelor’s degree in political science and international affairs.
Her father described her as “unbelievably funny, fiercely loyal, and wise beyond her years,” adding that she had a “rare gift.”
“She made everyone feel special, because she genuinely believed everyone was special,” McGovern wrote. “She treated people with compassion and kindness—always standing up for the underdog, and making fast friends wherever she went.”
According to her father, Molly never let her cancer diagnosis slow her down.
Recently, she finished a semester studying in Asutralia.
Her brother Patrick spoke of his close relationship with Molly, saying the two would FaceTime or speak on the phone every day.
“Molly will always be the soul of our family,” he wrote. “We are so proud of her, and so glad that so many people were touched by her incredible life. We love you, Molly, and we miss you already.”
Molly passed away on April 23, and her funeral was held on May 3.
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