Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) announced Thursday the sudden death of his daughter Molly McGovern, who had faced a “rare cancer diagnosis.”

In a joint statement with his wife Lisa McGovern and son Patrick McGovern, the congressman said that her death was unexpected.

“Even as she faced a rare cancer diagnosis, she did so with relentless courage, optimism, and tenacity — refusing to let her illness slow her down. She had just finished a semester abroad in Australia. She passed away unexpectedly in Italy while visiting a good friend and his........

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