Members of the Kennedy family gather for funeral of Ethel Kennedy

CENTERVILLE, Mass. (AP) — Members of the Kennedy family gathered Monday for the funeral of Ethel Kennedy, the wife of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy.

Ethel Kennedy, who raised their 11 children after her husband was assassinated and remained dedicated to social causes and the family’s legacy, died on Thursday at age 96.

Monday's funeral, which was closed to the public, took place at Our Lady of Victory, in Centerville, Massachusetts, about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of Boston.

Mourners gathered at the church under a cool gray sky. Ethel Kennedy died following complications related to a stroke suffered earlier this month.

“Along with a lifetime’s work in social justice and human rights, our mother leaves behind nine children, 34 grandchildren and 24 great-great-grandchildren, along with numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom love her dearly,” the family statement said in announcing her death.

President Joe Biden called her “an American icon — a matriarch of optimism and moral courage, an emblem of resilience and service.”

The Kennedy matriarch, mother to Kathleen, Joseph II, Robert Jr., David, Courtney, Michael, Kerry, Christopher, Max, Douglas and Rory, was one of the last remaining members of a family generation that included President John F. Kennedy. Her family said she had recently enjoyed seeing many of her relatives before falling ill.

A millionaire’s daughter who married the future senator and attorney general in 1950, Ethel Kennedy had endured more death by the age of 40, for the whole world to see, than most people would in a lifetime.

She was by Robert F. Kennedy’s side when he was fatally shot in the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on June 5, 1968, just after winning California’s Democratic presidential primary. Her brother-in-law had been assassinated in Dallas less than five years earlier.

Ethel Kennedy went on to found the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights soon after her husband’s death and advocated for causes including gun control and human rights. She rarely spoke about her husband’s assassination.

Former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, center, grandson of the late Ethel Kennedy, departs Our Lady of Victory church following funeral services for Ethel Kennedy, wife of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in Centerville, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Chris Kennedy, center, son of Ethel Kennedy, departs Our Lady of Victory church following funeral services for Ethel Kennedy, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in Centerville, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, center right above, grandson of the late Ethel Kennedy, speaks with Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, below left, as they depart Our Lady of Victory church following funeral services for Ethel Kennedy, wife of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in Centerville, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Caroline Kennedy, center, daughter of Pres. John F. Kennedy, speaks with people as she departs Our Lady of Victory church following funeral services for Ethel Kennedy, wife of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in Centerville, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Joseph Kennedy III, grandson of Ethel Kennedy, pauses on the steps of Our Lady of Victory church following funeral services for Ethel Kennedy, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in Centerville, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Former Massachusetts U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy II, center left, son of the late Ethel Kennedy, speaks with fellow mourners outside Our Lady of Victory church, following funeral services for Ethel Kennedy, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in Centerville, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Joseph Kennedy III, center right, grandson of Ethel Kennedy, hugs fellow mourners following funeral services at Our Lady of Victory church for Ethel Kennedy, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in Centerville, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

James Kennedy, great grandson of Ethel Kennedy, wife of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, is seated in a vehicle that forms part of a funeral procession departing Our Lady of Victory church, following funeral services for Ethel Kennedy, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in Centerville, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Mourners depart Our Lady of Victory church following funeral services for Ethel Kennedy, wife of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in Centerville, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Joseph Kennedy III, center, grandson of Ethel Kennedy, speaks to his wife Lauren Birchfield, second right, following funeral services for Ethel Kennedy at Our Lady of Victory church, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in Centerville, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, center, speaks with Monsignor Kenneth Velo, right, following funeral services for Ethel Kennedy, wife of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, at Our Lady of Victory church, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in Centerville, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Mourners hug following funeral services for Ethel Kennedy, wife of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, at Our Lady of Victory church, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in Centerville, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

A funeral procession departs Our Lady of Victory church following services for Ethel Kennedy, wife of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in Centerville, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Former Massachusetts U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy II, center right, son of the late Ethel Kennedy, arrives at Our Lady of Victory church, for Ethel Kennedy's funeral, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in Centerville, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

FILE - Robert F. Kennedy, 38-year-old American attorney general and brother of the late U.S. President, John F. Kennedy, is accompanied by his wife Ethel, leaving the U.S. Embassy for the airport in London, Jan. 25, 1964, to fly to Derbyshire to visit the grave of his sister who died in 1947 in a plane crash. (AP Photo/Laurence Harris, File)

Joseph Kennedy III, center right, grandson of the late Ethel Kennedy arrives at Our Lady of Victory church, for Ethel Kennedy's funeral, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in Centerville, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

FILE - Ethel Kennedy, from the film "Ethel," poses for a portrait during the 2012 Sundance Film Festival on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012, in Park City, Utah. (AP Photo/Victoria Will, File)

Pallbearers Max Kennedy, left, Chris Kennedy, behind center left, both sons of the late Ethel Kennedy, and Matt Kennedy, center front, and, Joseph Kennedy III, front second from right, both grandsons of Ethel Kennedy, carry her casket from Our Lady of Victory church, following funeral services, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in Centerville, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Managerless Manchester United crashed out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 defeat to Brighton on Sunday.

At the end of a week that saw the storied Premier League team fire head coach Ruben Amorim, the loss at Old Trafford has likely consigned United to another trophyless season and was greeted with loud jeers from the home crowd.

Interim coach Darren Fletcher admitted the 20-time English champion was “not in a good moment,” but said it was too soon to write the season off with Champions League qualification still achievable.

“It’s probably not what fans want to hear about Manchester United because they've been winning cups and challenging for the Premier League,” he said. “Don't waste the season. That would be the challenge that I would set. That’s the challenge that probably the players feel like they need to achieve this year.”

Former United striker Danny Welbeck scored what proved the decisive goal in the 64th minute, and Benjamin Sesko's late header was only a consolation for the hosts in the third-round match.

United has exited both domestic knockout competitions at the earliest possible stage this season, following the humbling loss to fourth-tier Grimsby in the English League Cup. The latest defeat means United will play the bare minimum of 40 competitive games for a top division team this season.

Its only chance of silverware this term is the Premier League, which would require a remarkable turnaround with United currently seventh in the standings and 17 points behind leader Arsenal with 17 games left.

A trophyless campaign would be back-to-back seasons in which United has ended up empty-handed.

The club's hierarchy hope an interim coach will be able to salvage the season by securing Champions League qualification. United has spoken to former players Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick about taking on the role until the summer. Fletcher, who has taken charge of the two games since Amorim's departure, is also a contender, as well as former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The loss to Brighton underlined the challenge facing the interim coach.

“Any time you come in at Manchester United, it’s a massive job,” Fletcher said. “It’s not about a manager, it’s not about directors. It’s about everyone and the players have to group together, take responsibility, find a way of improving quickly and taking on the challenge for the rest of the season.”

Brajan Gruda fired Brighton ahead in the 12th, with Welbeck doubling the advantage after the break. Sesko scored his third goal in two games in the 85th, but substitute Shea Lacey was sent off four minutes later and United could not force an equalizer to take the game to extra time.

“I gave it my best and ultimately I’m disappointed to not be able to win a game or to get a result today,” said Fletcher, who drew his other game in charge 2-2 with relegation-fighting Burnley.

Arsenal advanced earlier Sunday with Gabriel Martinelli scoring a hat trick in a 4-1 win at Portsmouth.

Martinelli's treble helped the Premier League leader come back from going a goal down to the second-tier Championship team inside three minutes.

Colby Bishop stunned Arsenal with the opening goal at Fratton Park, but the lead only lasted five minutes after Andre Dozzell scored an own-goal.

Martinelli put the visitors ahead with a flicked header in the 25th. He slid in for his second six minutes after the break and headed in his hat-trick goal in the 72nd. It was the first time the Brazilian had scored a hat trick for Arsenal.

Victory could have been even more emphatic if Noni Madueke had converted from the penalty spot in the first half.

“It’s always tough to go into these places, especially in the manner that we started the game, conceding the early goal, but we managed to turn things around so I’m very happy,” said manager Mikel Arteta.

Record 14-time FA Cup winner Arsenal last lifted the trophy in Arteta’s first season in charge in 2020. It was the last major honor the London club won, but victory against Portsmouth maintains its four-pronged trophy pursuit along with the Premier League title, the Champions League and the English League Cup.

“I think we are very privileged to be where we are, and the games that we have to play, which means that we are in every competition,” Arteta said.

Top-flight Leeds was also behind to Championship opposition, but recovered from 1-0 down to beat Derby 3-1 at Pride Park.

Third-tier Mansfield pulled off an upset to beat Championship side Sheffield United 4-3 and Norwich routed Walsall 5-1, with Jovon Makama scoring a hat trick. Norwich head coach Philippe Clement later said that U.S. international Josh Sargent refused to play in the game.

Relegation-fighting West Ham needed extra time to beat QPR 2-1. Valentin ‘Taty’ Castellanos’ goal saw Nuno Espirito Santo’s team end a 10-match winless run.

West Bromwich Albion beat Swansea 6-5 on penalties following a 2-2 draw after extra time. Hull won 4-3 against Blackburn on penalties after a 0-0 draw.

James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli scores during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Portsmouth and Arsenal in Portsmouth, England, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Brighton's Danny Welbeck celebrates after scoring during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton in Manchester, England, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Manchester United's Matheus Cunha reacts during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton in Manchester, England, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli scores during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Portsmouth and Arsenal in Portsmouth, England, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke celebrate after a goal during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Portsmouth and Arsenal in Portsmouth, England, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Leeds United's James Justin scores their side's third goal of the game during the Emirates FA Cup third round match between Derby County and Leeds United, in Derby, England, Sunday Jan. 11, 2026. (David Davies/PA via AP)

Leeds United's Ao Tanaka, right, celebrates with Wilfried Gnonto after scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Emirates FA Cup third round match between Derby County and Leeds United, in Derby, England, Sunday Jan. 11, 2026. (David Davies/PA via AP)

Arsenal players celebrate after a goal during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Portsmouth and Arsenal in Portsmouth, England, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)