Joan Rivers' Star-Studded Funeral in New York: The Funeral She Always Wanted

Joan Rivers' Star-Studded Funeral in New York: The Funeral She Always Wanted 

On Sunday, September 7, actors, comedians and fashion stars attended the funeral of comedy legend and fashionista, Joan Rivers.

The hour-long private service was held at Temple Emanu-El on 5^th Avenue. The service opened with the New York City Gay Men's chorus and closed with the New York City Police Department's bagpipe band playing their rendition of "New York, New York."

It was reported to be attended by stars such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Griffin and Whoopi Goldberg. Kathy Griffin paid tribute to the late comedienne for paving way for other women comics. It was also reported that actor Hugh Jackman sang "Quiet Please, There's a Lady on Stage' from the musical The Boy from Oz, while Broadway star Audra McDonald gave a performance. Rivers' co-hosts from "Fashion Police," Kelly Osbourne and Giuliana Rancic, fashion  designer Michael Kors, radio host Howard Stern, tycoon Donald Trump, Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters were also present during the service.

An estimated 1,500 people crowded the street, some even wearing their Sunday best, while paparazzis camped out across the streets to get pictures and footage of other celebrities entering the synagogue. Police fenced off the sidewalk to ensure the privacy of the service.

In her 2012 book "I Hate Everyone... Starting with Me" Rivers specified how she wanted her funeral to be writing, "I want paparazzi and I want publicists making a scene! I want it to be Hollywood all the way.  I don't want some rabbi rambling on." and it seems like she got exactly what she wanted.

Born in Brooklyn as Joan Alexandra Molinsky, she started her career in the fashion industry and eventually started doing stand-up under the stage name of Joan Rivers. On Thursday, September 4, it was announced by Rivers' daughter, Melissa, that her mother had passed away in Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan after suffering respiratory and cardiac arrest. Joan Rivers was 81 years old.

 

 

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