Kim Kardashian is paying tribute to grandmother Mary Jo “MJ” Shannon after her death at age 91.
“My sweet Grandma MJ, my best friend, my gossip buddy, my forever twin…” Kardashian, 45, wrote via Instagram on Thursday, July 16. “You taught all of us the importance of family, and those values are something we’ll carry with us forever!!!!! You were the woman who showed me what it meant to be a hardworking businesswoman.”
She continued, “You gave me my very first job at your store in San Diego and taught me lessons about work ethic, strength, and confidence that I’ve carried with me ever since. 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. I know you’re at peace now.”
Kardashian went on to ask Shannon to “give Papa Harry, Aunt Karen and my dad a hug” on her behalf.
“You will always be a part of me, I love you soooooo much and I will miss you forever and ever. 🤍 YOU ARE THE BEST OF US!!!” Kardashian concluded. “I know you are up in heaven, looking at all of our Instagram posts of you from your sneaky finsta account you would always use lol.”
Kim also honored her grandmother by sharing several photos of the duo through the years, including one throwback image with mom Kris Jenner.
Jenner, 70, shared her own tribute to Shannon earlier on Thursday while announcing that the matriarch died.
“Today, we said goodbye to my beautiful Mommy MJ. 😞💔,” Jenner wrote. “There are no words that could ever capture what she has meant to me or the heartbreak of having to say goodbye. My mom was the heart of our family.”
Jenner continued, “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. 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 went on to thank her mom 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 … 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. When I look at my kids and my grandkids, I will forever see pieces of you in all of us.”
She continued, “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. ❤️.”
