Kris Jenner’s younger sister, Karen Houghton, sadly passed away in March 2024 at the age of 65 after a sudden medical emergency, later reported as cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac arrhythmia with Type 2 diabetes as an underlying condition.

Who was Kris Jenner’s sister?

Karen Houghton was Kris Jenner’s only sibling and three years younger than her.

  • She and Kris were born to Mary Jo “MJ” Campbell and Robert True Houghton and grew up in the San Diego area.
  • Unlike the Kardashian-Jenner side of the family, Karen lived a mostly private life and stayed out of the spotlight.

What happened to her?

Karen died unexpectedly on March 18, 2024, after a medical emergency at her home in Carlsbad, California.

  • Authorities described it as a “medical aid call,” and a later death certificate cited cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac arrhythmia, with Type 2 diabetes listed as a contributing factor.
  • Her death was described as unexpected, with initial reports noting that the cause and manner of death were not immediately clear until documents were later made public.

How did Kris Jenner react?

Kris announced her sister’s death with an emotional Instagram tribute, calling it “the heaviest heart and deepest sadness” she had ever felt.

  • She described Karen as “the sweetest, kindest, most sensitive and vulnerable and so so funny,” and said her heart ached for their mother MJ and Karen’s daughter, Natalie.
  • Kris later thanked fans for their messages and has said she thinks of Karen “every single day,” especially on her “heavenly” birthdays.

How has the family talked about it since?

On later episodes of The Kardashians , Kris spoke about struggling with grief and said she believes her sister is in a better place but did not always feel ready to discuss it on camera.

  • Kim, Kourtney, and Khloé have remembered Karen as loving and fun, and have emphasized how hard the loss has been on their grandmother MJ.
  • Kris and Khloé skipped certain Hollywood events to prioritize family moments with Karen’s daughter, underscoring how the loss shifted their focus toward family over glamour.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.