Karen Houghton's Cause of Death Released: Latest Update on Passing of Kris Jenner's Sister

Weeks after Houghton's death, examiners confirmed that she died of heart issues which were exacerbated by diabetes.

By Michael Hein

Kris Jenner's sister Karen Houghton passed away in mid-March at the age of 65, and her cause of death was published weeks later. According to a death certificate obtained by TMZ, Houghton suffered cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac arrhythmia, with Type 2 Diabetes listed as a secondary underlying cause. The Kardashian-Jenner family is still grieving this abrupt loss.

Houghton passed away on March 19, and the Kardashian-Jenner family memorialized her on social media. In the weeks that followed, medical examiners investigated her cause of death, noting both diabetes and bipolar disorder as chronic conditions before her passing. Jenner posted several photos of Houghton, herself and her children over the years, ignoring any family drama to focus on her grief at the time.

"It is with the heaviest heart and deepest sadness that I share that my sister Karen passed away yesterday unexpectedly," Jenner wrote at the time. "My heart aches for my mom MJ and my niece Natalie and I pray that God guides us all through this difficult time. Karen was beautiful inside and out. She was the sweetest, kindest, the most sensitive and vulnerable and so so funny. She always felt grateful and thankful for her life and treasured her family and friends and especially her beautiful daughter."

"She holds such a huge part of my heart and I cherish every single memory we have together," Jenner went on. "Karen's passing is a reminder that life is so short and precious and tomorrow is never promised. We must tell those we cherish how much we love them. I love you my beautiful sister."

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Jenner, 68, is the elder of the two siblings born to Mary Jo "MJ" Shannon and Robert True Houghton. Their parents divorced when both sisters were still young, but their mother remarried and they were raised by their stepfather, Harry Shannon, along with his son from a previous relationship, Steve Shannon. Jenner has gone on to engineer a reality TV empire, with interests in social media, publishing, cosmetics, fashion and more. While her content focused heavily on family, her sister never made an on-screen appearance and there were some hints that they were estranged at times.

Houghton is survived by her daughter, Natalie as well as her mother, her sister, her five nieces and her nephew. The Kardashian-Jenner family has not commented publicly on the release of her death certificate so far.

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