On August 2, 2019, the Kennedy family released a statement that said they were "shattered" by Saoirse's passing. "Her life was filled with hope, promise, and love," the statement read. "She lit up our lives with her love, her peals of laughter and her generous spirit," the statement continued. "Saoirse was passionately moved by the causes of human rights and women’s empowerment and found great joy in volunteer work, working alongside indigenous communities to build schools in Mexico. "Let us honor her life by carrying forth her loving compassion, merriment and her passionate fight for women’s empowerment.