Mary Jo “MJ” Shannon, the mother of Kardashian “momager” Kris Jenner, has died, Jenner announced on July 16. She was 91 years old.
Jenner shared a heartfelt post about her mother, describing her as the “heart of our family.”
“Today, we said goodbye to my beautiful Mommy MJ,” Jenner said of Shannon in her social media post. “There are no words that could ever capture what she has meant to me or the heartbreak of having to say goodbye.”
In her social media post, Jenner reflected on the ways in which Shannon, known to fans of “The Kardashians” as “MJ,” had impacted her throughout the course her life. Shannon was the grandmother to the family’s famous stars including Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner.
Mary Jo Shannon, known to fans of “The Kardashians” as “MJ,” died at 91 years old.
“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,” Jenner wrote. “She taught us that family is everything. 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.”
Jenner, who said she was grateful for “every sacrifice” her mother made, also shared the aspects of Shannon that she will grieve.
“I will miss our daily talks, your smile, your laughter… Our hearts are broken, but we find comfort knowing that love like yours never truly leaves us,” Jenner wrote. “Your love will live on in our family, in our traditions, in every moment we are together, and in every life you touched.”
While Jenner said that the loss will be difficult for her and the family, she added that Shannon’s memory will live on.
“When I look at my kids and my grandkids, I will forever see pieces of you in all of us. 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,” Jenner wrote. “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.”
Jenner concluded her post by thanking Shannon for “giving us everything.”
“My heart is broken into a million pieces… thank you for giving me the greatest childhood and oh what a beautiful blessed life…” Jenner wrote. “I love you forever Mommy.”
Several other members of the Kardashian family also shared emotional messages about Shannon. Kim Kardashian described her late grandmother in an Instagram post as her “best friend, my gossip buddy, my forever twin.”
“You taught all of us the importance of family, and those values are something we’ll carry with us forever!!!!!” Kardashian wrote on social media.
Kardashian added that Shannon was the one who taught her “what it meant to be a hardworking businesswoman.” She explained in the post that her grandmother had given her her first job at a store Shannon owned in San Diego.
“You always believed in me, championed me, and were my safe place. You truly were the matriarch of our family, and your love is woven into all of us,” Kardashian wrote, calling on Shannon to embrace several of her late family members including her father Robert Kardashian, who died in 2003. “I know you’re at peace now.”
Kourtney Kardashian Barker also posted a sweet photo of Shannon on her Instagram stories while Khloe Kardashian shared a tearful moment between Jenner and Shannon from the family’s reality show.
Kourtney Kardashian Barker shared a sweet throwback photo of her late grandmother on July 16.@kourtneykardash/Instagram
In the past, Jenner has opened up about how Shannon’s health. During a 2025 episode of “The Kardashians,” Jenner broke down when reflecting on her mother’s well-being after Karen Houghton, Shannon’s younger daughter, died unexpectedly in 2024.
“Ever since my sister passed away, she’s been super sad, like we all have, and I know that I need to be there for her,” Jenner said.
In the episode, Shannon revealed she hadn’t been to her kitchen for two days due to pain she had been experiencing.
“This makes me really sad,” an emotional Jenner said in the episode. “I just hate it when she’s in so much pain.”