US congressman's daughter felt nauseous on holiday - minutes later she was dead

The “courageous and special” daughter of a died moments after she had complained of feeling ill on a during a break in her studies.

Molly McGovern said to her travelmates she felt nauseous during a meal out with a friend and his family in , before collapsing. Tragically the 23-year-old, who was diagnosed with a rare at 18 but managed the disease with treatment, died only a few minutes later. Molly’s father is US congressman Jim McGovern who wrote a sweet tribute to his daughter on social media to confirm she had passed away “unexpectedly”, with many reacting with sadness.

Molly had flown to Rome on Easter Sunday, dying three days later on April 23, in Assisi. Her dad said: “Molly radiated pure joy. She lit up every room with her beaming smile—full of laughter, endless warmth, and a sharp wit that could disarm you in an instant. She was unbelievably funny, fiercely loyal, and wise beyond her years.

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"Molly had a rare gift: She made everyone feel special, because she genuinely believed everyone was special. She treated people with compassion and kindness—always standing up for the underdog, and making fast friends wherever she went.

"Her love for the Boston Bruins was fierce, but it was no match for the love she gave so freely to her family and friends. If you ever met Molly, you carried a piece of her light with you. She had that kind of effect on people.

“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. Molly will always be the soul of our family. We are so proud of her, and so glad that so many people were touched by her incredible life. We love you, Molly. We miss you already.”

"She had a great 23 years, but who would have thought the last five years would be the best," her mother said. "There were little miracles everywhere."

Congresswoman Haley Stevens added on X: “Yesterday, I spoke about the passing of my friend and the daughter of my colleague, Molly McGovern. Molly was a light to everyone who met her, she wanted to make everyone around her happier, even after a rare cancer diagnosis. She will be so missed, but her impact on the people who knew her will carry on.”

On the day she died, Molly had been texting with former US House Speaker and family friend, Nancy Pelosi, who was preparing to travel to Italy for the funeral of Pope Francis. Pelosi recalled that when she learned Molly had died just hours after sending texts, she reached out to her father to say: "I think his holiness, who was so saintly, decided he wanted another angel in heaven. And that would be Molly, because she was so good."

"To be honest, my first thought was: 'Oh my God, poor Pope Francis,'" Jim McGovern joked in his eulogy at his daughter's funeral, adding that she would be a livelier angel than the pontiff expected. Her family and friends spoke of her life mission to stand up for anyone who needed a friend, especially if they were being picked on.

"She hated bullies, she hated cruelty, and she wanted everyone to love each other," said her Democrat father. Molly had taken a trip to Italy to celebrate after finishing a semester abroad in . She was studying for a bachelor's degree in political science and international affairs at Boston's Northeastern University.