Family, friends and stars, including radio host Howard Stern, actress Sarah Jessica Parker, mogul Donald Trump, comic Kathy Griffin and Whoopi Goldberg, have attended Joan Rivers’ funeral service in New York.
Crowds of fans and media also gathered outside Manhattan’s Temple Emanu-El.
Joan Rivers, who died on September 4, wrote in 2012 about how she wanted her funeral to be “a huge showbiz affair”.
The comedienne died a week after suffering a cardiac arrest while having a routine medical procedure. She was 81.
Howard Stern delivered the eulogy, describing Joan Rivers as “the best friend in the world… a big sister… a crazy aunt at a bar mitzvah”, according to People magazine.
Other speakers included Joan Rivers’ daughter, Melissa, Deborah Norville, friend Margie Stern and New York Post columnist Cindy Adams.
Hugh Jackman delivered a rendition of the song Quiet Please, There’s a Lady on Stage, from his musical The Boy From Oz, and Broadway actress Audra McDonald sang Smile.
The New York City Gay Men’s Chorus opened the ceremony with a series of Broadway hits, while bagpipers from the New York City Police Department performed New York, New York.
Joan Rivers wrote in 2012 about how she wanted her funeral to be a huge showbiz affair (photo Getty Images)
Other mourners included Joan Rivers’ former Fashion Police co-star Kelly Osbourne, actors Alan Cumming and Tommy Tune, music producer Clive Davis and fashion designers Carolina Herrera and Michael Kors.
TV personalities including Barbara Walters, Geraldo Rivera, Diane Sawyer, Kathie Lee, Hoda Kotb and Andy Cohen also paid their respects.
Joan Rivers wrote in 2012 about her funeral plans: “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; I want Meryl Streep crying, in five different accents.”
Hundreds of fans gathered to observe proceedings outside the temple.
In what The Sunday Times billed as her final interview, Joan Rivers said she had given her daughter Melissa strict instructions on who should not be allowed to attend her funeral – but did not say who was on the list.
Joan Rivers also said she had been preparing Melissa for her death.
“It’s like, God, I’m in my 80s,” she said.
“Nobody, when I die, is going to say, <<How young?>> They’re going to say, <<She had a great ride>>. “
After her passing, tributes for Joan Rivers flooded in from figures including David Letterman, Ellen DeGeneres and Prince Charles, who praised her “unstoppable sense of humour and… enormous zest for life”.
Senior Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson, who conducted the service, said beforehand in a statement: “We mourn with her family, friends and all those millions to whom she brought laughter and joy.”
Joan Rivers stopped breathing during a procedure on her vocal cords at an outpatient clinic on August 28. The New York City Medical Examiner’s Office said that after an initial examination, further tests would be carried out to determine the cause of death.
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Joan Rivers will have a red carpet at her funeral in New York City on September 7, Us Weekly reported.
The red carpet, which Joan Rivers’ family and friends will walk upon outside Temple Emanu-El, will then be buried with the star.
An insider told the publication: “A lot of celebrities confirmed.”
In addition, only certain individuals will be allowed to roll it out.
Joan Rivers died on September 4 at the age of 81 after she stopped breathing during an outpatient procedure on her vocal cords and had been hospitalized at Mount Sinai Hospital since August 28.
Joan Rivers will have a red carpet at her funeral in New York City on September 7 (photo Getty Images)
The comedienne’ plans for her own funeral have resurfaced, proving that a red carpet is what she always wanted when she passed.
In her 2012 book I Hate Everyone…Starting with Me, Joan Rivers wrote: “When I die (and yes, Melissa, that day will come; and yes, Melissa, everything’s in your name,) I want my funeral to be a huge showbiz affair with lights, cameras, action.”
“I want Craft services, 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; I want Meryl Streep crying, in five different accents,” she continued.
“I don’t want a eulogy; I want Bobby Vinton to pick up my head and sing <<Mr. Lonely>>. I want to look gorgeous, better dead than I do alive. I want to be buried in a Valentino gown and I want Harry Winston to make me a toe tag. And I want a wind machine so that even in the casket my hair is blowing just like Beyonce’s.”
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A funeral ceremony for late comedienne Joan Rivers is set to be held in her hometown of New York City this weekend.
Joan Rivers, 81, died at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital after she was removed from life support following a cardiac and respiratory arrest on August 28.
Her daughter, Melissa Rivers, shared the sad news of her mother’s passing on September 4, and now it has been announced funeral services for Joan Rivers will be held at Temple Emanu-El, the synagogue where she was a member.
A statement from Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson to ABC News reads: “It is a terribly sad day for all of us. We mourn with her family, friends and all those millions to whom she brought laughter and joy.”
Joan Rivers died at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital after she was removed from life support following a cardiac and respiratory arrest (photo Getty Images)
Meanwhile, tributes continued to pour in throughout Thursday, and among them was Joan Rivers’ co-host of fashion commentary program Fashion Police, Kelly Osbourne.
Kelly Osbourne shared her grief in a statement that reads: “I’m completely heartbroken by the loss of my beloved Joan. Not only was she my boss, she was and will always be my teacher, therapist, closest friend, inspiration and the only grandmother I ever knew. She was family and I will never forget her. Laughter will be difficult for a while but when I’m sad, lonely or upset all I will have to do is think of Joan and a smile will cross my face. Laughter is what she gave us and laughter is what she would want us to do in remembrance of her.
“Melissa and [grandson] Cooper, my thoughts are with you and I love you both so much. Joan, thank you for taking me in and loving me as a daughter. I will miss you deeply and will always hear your voice in my head saying, <<My darling get out there and be you!>>”
