Molly McGovern, the daughter of U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, died unexpectedly while on a trip in Italy, the Massachusetts congressman's office said Thursday. She was 23 years old. The high-ranking Democrat from Worcester said his daughter was battling a rare form of cancer and just finished a semester studying abroad in Australia.

Massachusetts Representative Jim McGovern said Thursday that his 23-year-old daughter Molly McGovern died “unexpectedly in Italy while visiting a good friend and his family.”

Longtime Massachusetts Rep. Jim McGovern said Thursday his daughter Molly McGovern, “the soul of our family,” had died unexpectedly while visiting a friend in Italy.