According to her family, Cecile Richards, a former president of Planned Parenthood and a champion for women’s rights, passed away at the age of 67.
Our dear Cecile died this morning at home, accompanied by her devoted dog, Ollie, and her family. In a statement released to NBC News on Monday, her family wrote, “Our hearts are broken today, but no words can do justice to the joy she brought to our lives.”
According to the statement, we are appreciative of the physicians and medical staff who gave her exceptional treatment as well as the friends, family, and well-wishers who supported her during this trying time.
She told The Cut last year that she was given a 2023 diagnosis of glioblastoma, a dangerous type of brain cancer.
To those who would like to honor Richard’s memory, the family wrote, “We invite you to gather with friends and family over a good meal and put on some New Orleans jazz.”
Richards’ quote, “It’s not hard to imagine future generations one day asking: When there was so much at stake for our country, what did you do?” was used by the family to close out their statement. “Everything we could” is the only response that is acceptable.
She left a record of vigorously defending abortion rights while serving as president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund from 2006 to 2018.