Joan Kennedy, Sen. Edward Kennedy's ex-wife, dies at 89

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FILE - Joan Kennedy and husband Ted Kennedy circa 1971 in New York City. (Photo by Tom Wargacki/WireImage)

Joan Kennedy, the first wife of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, died Wednesday at the age of 89. 

What they're saying:

Her family announced her death in a statement to the Associated Press, and a local obituary from her home in Boston was also published Wednesday. 

"Mrs. Kennedy was a classically trained pianist, an advocate for mental health and addiction recovery, and a quiet pioneer in publicly addressing challenges with alcoholism and depression at a time when few others would," her son Patrick Kennedy and his wife Amy said in a statement.

"Her courage and candor helped break stigma and inspired others to seek help and healing. Her impact on the arts, mental health advocacy, her beloved Boston community, and the nation will be remembered by many," he said.

Marriage to Edward Kennedy

Big picture view:

Joan married Edward Kennedy in 1958. They had three children together and a marriage that was marked by family tragedies, infidelities, and struggles with alcoholism and mental health before their divorce in 1982. 

Dig deeper:

She endured the assassinations of two brothers-in-law and stood by her husband through the Chappaquiddick scandal as well as through his failed 1980 run for president. 

Chappaquiddick scandal

The backstory:

In 1969, the car Edward Kennedy was driving plunged off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island, killing his young female passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne.

Kennedy, who swam to safety and waited hours before alerting police, later pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident. Chappaquiddick shadowed him for the rest of his life, weighing against his own chances for the presidency.

Dig deeper:

She stood by her husband through the scandal, but their estrangement was nearly impossible to hide by the time of his unsuccessful effort to defeat President Jimmy Carter in the 1980 Democratic primaries. They had been separated by then, and would later divorce. One bumper sticker from the campaign read "Vote for Jimmy Carter, Free Joan Kennedy."

Classically-trained pianist

Big picture view:

Her love of piano would be a trademark for much of her life

"Playing the piano instantly became her trademark while campaigning with the Kennedys, where she would frequently open political rallies and warm up the crowd with her piano serenades," her obituary reads. 

She also regularly performed with orchestras all over the world, and wrote a best-selling book, "The Joy of Classical Music," in efforts to make classical music more accessible to all listeners. 

Mental health advocate

She was known to struggle with mental health issues and alcoholism for much of her life, including several drunk driving arrests. 

But was among the first to openly advocate for addiction recovery and inspire others to seek help. 

"Mrs. Kennedy became one of the first prominent women in America to publicly acknowledge her struggles with alcoholism and depression, a move that she felt was essential to breaking the silence and tackling the taboo of addiction in the 1970s," her obituary reads. 

What they're saying:

"I will always admire my mother for the way that she faced up to her challenges with grace, courage, humility, and honesty," Ted Kennedy Jr. said in her obituary. "She taught me how to be more truthful with myself and how careful listening is a more powerful communication skill than public speaking."

Joan Kennedy is survived by two children, Ted Kennedy, Jr., and former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI), nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.