The Kardashian-Jenner family is mourning the loss of their matriarch, Mary Jo “MJ” Shannon. After passing away at the age of 91 on July 16, 10 days before what would have been her 92nd birthday, her death certificate has shed more light on her final months.
© The Grosby GroupAccording to the document, obtained by Us Weekly, MJ passed away at the hospital, and her immediate cause of death was acute cardiopulmonary arrest. Acute respiratory failure and metastatic lung cancer were also listed as conditions leading to her death. The certificate states she had been living with cancer for months. She was cremated on July 23.
The news comes two days after her family gathered in Southern California for a celebration of her life.
Kim Kardashian was photographed leaving The Valencia Hotel in La Jolla after attending the memorial with Kris, Kourtney Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, Scott Disick, and members of their families.
© Backgrid/The Grosby GroupThe 45-year-old wore a long white dress and oversized sunglasses for the gathering and was seen walking alongside Psalm, whom she shared with ex-husband Ye, formerly known as Kanye West.
© Backgrid/The Grosby GroupKhloe was also spotted in a black-and-white polka-dot dress, walking with Kourtney and Scott's daughter, Penelope.
© Backgrid/The Grosby GroupKourtney opted for black, while Scott was also photographed dressed in a black suit and white shirt.
© Backgrid/The Grosby GroupLa Jolla was a fitting place for the family to come together. MJ had deep ties to the San Diego community and spent years running her children's boutique, Shannon & Co.
Saying goodbye to MJ
© GettyKris announced her mother's death on July 16 with an emotional tribute reflecting on the woman she described as the center of their family.
“Today, we said goodbye to my beautiful Mommy MJ,” she wrote. “There are no words that could ever capture what she has meant to me or the heartbreak of having to say goodbye.”
“My mom was the heart of our family,” Kris continued, crediting MJ with teaching her “to love your family fiercely, to be kind, to show up for the people you love, and to never take a single moment together for granted.” “She taught us that family is everything.”
© Backgrid/The Grosby Group/Lagencia GrosbyDespite getting backlash for posting bikini pictures on the same day she died, which she later explained, for Kim, the loss was particularly personal. “My sweet Grandma MJ, my best friend, my gossip buddy, my forever twin,” Kim wrote in her own tribute following her grandmother's death. “You taught all of us the importance of family, and those values are something we'll carry with us forever.”
On Sunday, for MJ's birthday, Kim shared another gallery dedicated to her grandma, revealing that she had been going through her stuff with Kris. "It’s only been a week, but wow, the amount of things I’ve learned about you this week from going through all of your stuff with mom has been beautiful," she wrote.
© The Grosby Group"I thought I knew it all! Makes me respect you and love you more if that’s even possible. Today we celebrate you! I miss you like crazy, and I love you endlessly, my sweet grandma MJ," she continued.
A source previously told People that Kim “truly idolized” her grandmother and shared an especially close relationship with her, while Kris viewed MJ as the person who helped teach her and her daughters lessons that extended far beyond business.
