In an incredibly heartbreaking announcement, Kris Jenner has shared the passing of her beloved mother, Mary Jo “MJ” Shannon.
Kris took to Instagram this Thursday morning to share an emotional tribute to her mother who was 91 years old. In her post, Kris says, “Today, we said goodbye to my beautiful Mommy MJ. 😞💔 There are no words that could ever capture what she has meant to me or the heartbreak of having to say goodbye.” She went on to describe MJ’s central role in their lives, emphasizing the core values her mother instilled in the family:
<blockquote>”My mom was the heart of our family. She taught me everything that truly matters… 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.”</blockquote>
Kris went on to say,
<blockquote>”She showed us how to love unconditionally and how to find joy in the little moments. She showed me how to face life’s challenges with resilience and faith.” Expressing her gratitude for the lifetime of love and wisdom she received, Kris added: “Mom, thank you for every sacrifice you made, every piece of wisdom you shared, and every moment you loved us so completely. I will miss our daily talks, your smile, your laughter…”</blockquote>
Despite her broken heart, Kris shared comfort in knowing MJ’s legacy and love will endure through the generations:
<blockquote>”Our hearts are broken, but we find comfort knowing that love like yours never truly leaves us. Your love will live on in our family, in our traditions, in every moment we are together, and in every life you touched. When I look at my kids and my grandkids, I will forever see pieces of you in all of us.”</blockquote>
She concluded her deeply moving post with a direct message of love to her mother:
<blockquote>”There is not a part of me that isn’t shaped by you. And if I have done anything right in this world, it’s because I spent my life trying to live in a way that would make you proud. Every memory, every moment, every blessing, it was all because of you, and I will forever thank God every single day for making you my mommy. My heart is broken into a million pieces… thank you for giving me the greatest childhood and oh what a beautiful blessed life… I love you forever Mommy. Thank you for giving us everything. ❤️”</blockquote>
Throughout the nearly two-decade run of the Kardashian family’s reality television franchise, Mary Jo “MJ” Shannon made frequent, beloved guest appearances that highlighted her close bond with her daughter, Kris, and her grandchildren. MJ’s presence on Keeping Up with the Kardashians and Hulu’s The Kardashiansprovided a grounded, generational perspective to the wild lives of the famous family. Whether she was offering candid, no-nonsense life advice to her granddaughters or attending major family milestones and birthday celebrations, her cameos were always a favorite among viewers.
MJ’s appearances often featured highly memorable. In one unforgettable episode, she and Kris hilariously experimented with medical marijuana gummy bears to help soothe her back pain, showcasing their playful, sister-like dynamic. In other episodes, the show documented emotional moments, such as Kris attempting to record a legacy video with her mother, and the family finding creative ways to stay connected and combat loneliness with MJ during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.
Through all of her appearances, MJ served as the ultimate symbol of unconditional love and family loyalty, proving to viewers exactly where the Kardashian-Jenner women inherited their resilience and tight-knit family values.