Joan Rivers’ funeral featured Hugh Jackman singing, Howard Stern eulogizing

Joan Rivers Stock Image
Hugh Jackman sang, bagpipers played, and Howard Stern made inappropriate jokes. Joan Rivers would have loved her funeral at Temple Emanu-El in New York City on Sunday. Countless celebrities attended and fans and well wishers waited on the sidelines to pay tribute to a fearless woman who loved to make us laugh. E! News has some details from Joan’s service, which sounds like it was bitter sweet.

Joan Rivers’ funeral, while away from Hollywood, was an honorable “showbiz affair” and included a final standing ovation for the comedy legend.

The comedienne, TV star and host of E!’s Fashion Police, who died last week at age 81, was mourned on Sunday by family and friends, including at least 40 celebrities, at a memorial at Temple Emanu-El, a Reform Jewish synagogue in New York City.

The tearful, emotional and often humorous service was conducted by Rabbi Joshua Davidson and included performances of Broadway show tunes by Tony winner Hugh Jackman, the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus and the New York City Police Department Emerald

Society bagpipers and drummers, E! News has learned. Joan had performed in Broadway plays in years past.

The funeral also included jokes by her friend, Sirius XM radio shock jock and America’s Got Talent judge Howard Stern, who had interviewed her several times on her show. Joan’s daughter Melissa Rivers read a sweet letter to her mother, while the comedienne’s other friends also delivered touching tributes to the late icon.

Joan had said in her 2012 book I Hate Everyone…Starting With Me that she wanted her funeral to be a “a huge showbiz affair.”
The New York City Gay Men’s Chorus performed first at her funeral, singing songs such as “There Is Nothing Like a Dame” from the 1949 musical South Pacific and “Hey, Big Spender” from the 1966 show Sweet Charity.

Broadway star Audra McDonald sang “Smile.” She was followed by Stern, who delivered a humorous, partially crass and moving eulogy. He called Joan his “good friend” and his “hero.”

Joan’s friends, including Inside Edition host Deborah Norville and Page Six columnist Cindy Adams, as well as the comedienne’s business manager, told stories about the comedienne, recalling her practical jokes, humor and class.

Melissa thanked the attendees and read a letter to her mother that she had recently written for a mother/daughter-themed article. She had read it to Joan not long ago and her mother loved it.

Jackman, who won a Tony in 2004 for his leading role in Peter Allen’s autobiographical Broadway musical The Boy From Oz, performed one of the show’s songs—”Quiet Please, There’s a Lady on Stage.” In the musical, Allen, the first husband of Liza Minnelli, sings the tune to honor his late mother-in-law, Judy Garland.

Sample lyrics are: So put your hands together and help her along / All that’s left of the singer’s / All that’s left of the song / Stand for the ovation / And give her one last celebration” and “Quiet please, there’s a lady on stage / Conductor, turn the final page / And when it’s over we can all go home / But she lives on—on the stage alone.”

Jackman received a standing ovation. The last one for Joan.

[From E! Online]

The NY Times has more details, including a copy of the program from her memorial. CBS News has a slideshow with photos of some of the famous mourners at her funeral. I feel weird about publishing photos of people attending funerals, so I’m just including crowd shots here, but I doubt Joan would have minded. She wanted a showbiz funeral after all. I only wish it was televised. I still can’t believe Joan is gone. I feel like I knew her. She definitely blazed the way for my career. RIP Joan.

Joan Rivers Memorial Service

Joan Rivers Memorial Service

Joan Rivers Stock Image

wenn21663459_edited-1

Joan Rivers stock image

photo credit: WENN.com

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47 Responses to “Joan Rivers’ funeral featured Hugh Jackman singing, Howard Stern eulogizing”

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  1. Frida_K says:

    I still can’t believe that she’s gone either. Poor Melissa and Cooper! I hope that the funeral was comforting to them, and that Joan is having a lot of fun being a smart@ss up in her version of heaven, wherever that may be.

  2. GoodNamesAllTaken says:

    My heart goes out to Melissa. I’m glad Joan would have liked the funeral, but now that it’s all over, the reality sets in.

    • Jayne says:

      My condolences to all. Having said that what a totally camp funeral. Bagpipes, a gay male chorus, Steve Gutenberg, Judge Judy and Hugh Jackman singing a song written for Judy Garland by her daughters first gay husband. So much fabulousness. Joan would have LOVED this.

    • MrsBPitt says:

      @Goodnames….that’s the worst, isn’t it…right after the death there is so much to do, and then the funeral and then….the floor drops out from under you and realize that’s it….this person that you loved with all your heart is gone. I don’t know what happens after death…but I can understand the comfort or believing that after we die, we will get to see the people we loved so much in life…I hope its true!

      • Erinn says:

        This. So much.

        When my grandfather had been admitted to the hospital it was really hard… and then he passed and we all just got busy and kept distracted. Once we were at the grave, that’s when things really hit hard.

      • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

        I hope so, too. And I hope Melissa can still feel Joan’s love.

    • Bob Loblaw says:

      Grief counseling truly can help. Or at least reading some Elisabeth Kübler-Ross.

  3. lower-case deb says:

    off-topic but the dress in the second-to-last photo reminds me of Kate Midd’s Jenny Packham dress:
    http://www.inofashion.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Kate-and-Jenny-Packham-SS11-collection.jpg

    • Abbott says:

      It does! Except when Joan wore it it was pure GLAMOUR.

      • Brittaki says:

        Totally GLAMOUR, all the way. As much as I’ve always loved Joan’s hilarious self-deprecation of herself in her comedy, she really was not the dog she thought herself to be. I think she’s always been perfectly lovely, physically speaking. And her taste in clothes was always magnifique.

  4. Brin says:

    It must have been amazing, so glad it was the way she wanted it to be.

  5. Carrie says:

    RIP Joan Rivers. Watching her old stuff on youtube is my guilty pleasure.

  6. LadyMTL says:

    It sounds like they really tried to give her a funeral that she would have loved (how weird is it to say that? LOL). When my great uncle died 2 weeks ago his kids made sure to give him a wake he would have enjoyed, even playing music that he loved, serving his favorite ice cream, and etc. I think it’s important to pay attention to those kinds of details.

    RIP Joan, I will miss your acerbic wit.

    • Petee says:

      When my Dad passed we had bagpipes and Mariaches(I don’t know if that’s the right spelling)at his funeral because he loved them so much.Yes I think Joan would have loved all of it.I saw the pictures and Howard Stern looked devastated.I was glad to hear he was part of the eulogy.They adored one another.All in all it seemed like what she wanted.Love you Joan and RIP.My Friday nights will never be the same.

      • Diana B says:

        It’s mariachis. Either way, it sounds lovely for you to honor your father in death.

      • Petee says:

        Thanx Diana B.I am not the best speller sometimes and the spellcheck wasn’t really helping.Lol.My family is Native American and we did have that part also but we also gave him everything he loved too.He even wore his favorite shirt.It seems like Melissa did the same.

      • Diana B says:

        I think one finds comfort to be able to do those small things for them. It give us purporse in a time when everything seems so pointless and bleak. When my most beloved aunt died of cancer we put all our efforts in getting her beautified as she liked, with lipstick and a necklace she loved and a beautiful dress because when she was alive and well, those were the things that made her happy so we wanted to send her off looking her best and at the time it helped us cope with the tragedy.

  7. Lady Macbeth says:

    Rip Joan, I still can’t believe she’s gone 🙁

  8. Mia4S says:

    Good for them! That’s how she would have wanted to go out. The big show, nothing quiet about it.

  9. smcollins says:

    Sounds like it was perfect, and exactly what Joan wanted. What a fabulous way to say good-bye. And you know Joan is somewhere hosting a Fashion Police about what people wore to the funeral.
    😉

  10. PunkyMomma says:

    It was a send off worthy of Joan Rivers. She would have loved it. RIP Joan.

  11. Loopy says:

    She honestly was gone too soon even at 81 i feel like if it wasn’t for this unfortunate incident she could have lived to 100. Rest Well Funny Lady!

    • FingerBinger says:

      I have no doubt she would have lived to 100. As far as we know she was in good health. She was still working. I think she did stand up the night before before the procedure. She also had a bunch of performances in the works. It’s all very sad.

      • Kiddo says:

        Some news outlets dug up some old video of Joan stating that she had cardiac arrhythmia. Who knows if this was ever formally diagnosed and in records or if the experience was relayed during a history and physical before the start of the last procedure.

  12. Ice Queen says:

    I still can’t believe that she’s gone. I wish that she would just jump from around the corner and say ” You’ve all been fooled, motherfu*kers! Hahahahaha!”

    This will take a lot of time getting used to 🙁

  13. Talie says:

    She wasn’t done! She had at least another 5-10 years of great jokes left in her… this sucks!

  14. Kiddo says:

    Since Joan had so much plastic surgery, and yet Melissa looks like Joan in that later photo above, did Melissa get a lot of plastic surgery too? Or did Joan get surgery that made her look more like Melissa?

  15. TheCountess says:

    Sounds like the perfect sendoff. RIP.

  16. Sayrah says:

    I’m listening to Howard stern on Sirius talking about it. Very moving. RIP Joan.

    • Petee says:

      I listened to it too.I wish people wouldn’t refer to him as a Shock Jock anymore.Early in his career he was to put himself on the map but not so much anymore.He still say’s what he thinks and is very intelligent.He does the best interviews with celebrities and gets them to say things they were not expecting to say.No wonder him and Joan were so close.She was at his Birthday Party and nailed it.I hope I am as sharp as she was when I get into my eighties.She was one of a kind.

      • Sayrah says:

        I know! Love Howard. He’s softened and only gotten better over the years. He’s one of the wittiest and most self deprecating entertainers out there.

      • Sassy says:

        Love Howard Stern. A voice of reason, actually.

  17. L says:

    TMZ had a video of the bagpipers playing ‘new york new york’ as they exited the funeral, and it was quite moving.

    Sounds like her family knew her wishes and sent her out in the style that she wanted.

  18. O.K.P says:

    I’m so sad. I loved Joan Rivers

  19. BeckyR says:

    I am surprised a house of worship would allow some of what I have read. Not criticizing, just thinking out loud.

  20. Darlene says:

    Oh, I loved that woman. I really felt as though I knew her, as did so many of us. I am so sorry for Melissa and Cooper, whose loss this truly is. 🙁

  21. kri says:

    Sounds like Joan had the send off the way she wanted. Even now, I’m laughing. I bet she is, too. Have a fabulous time in heaven telling God his outfit sucks. We won’t forget you, Joan.

  22. Joh says:

    Wow, Melissa showed so much class this past week!
    Joan did a great job raising her.
    We will all miss Joan!

  23. Fue McCormick says:

    I’ve only cried for two famous people when they died: Princess Diana and Joan Rivers. I am so saddened by her death and I offer Melissa and Cooper my deepest condolences.
    I hope she shocked and made Peter laugh at the pearly gates. (I know Joan was Jewish but she celebrated Christmas, too, so I think this is OK to say.)

    • Nicolette says:

      Me too, and I feel exactly the way I did when Diana died. I miss Joan and her humor already. I’m glad Melissa gave her the big splashy send off she wanted. Wonder if she got her wish of being buried in a Valentino gown. Saw some photos of people arriving to and leaving the service. I just kept thinking about how Joan would be commenting on their outfits.

  24. Flower says:

    I wouldn’t feel bad about posting photos of people attending the funeral ‘celebitchy’, after all there was a red carpet for them to walk just as Joan requested , ‘OMG That Dress’ did a rundown as if it was the Oscars, complete with dress snark, Joan would have loved it. I must say I had never heard ‘Quite….there’s a lady on stage’ so googled youtube and found a fabulous clip of Dusty Springfield singing it, with a little imagination it could be Joan up on stage taking her final ovation.

  25. Bob Loblaw says:

    Dear Joan, you’ve tickled my funny bone for many, many years, I’ll miss your keen wit and sharp tongue. I’m glad you received the tribute you deserved from your colleagues. Thank you for all the years of hard work. We will miss you more than you can ever know. RIP and sincere condolences to your daughter and grandson.

  26. LAK says:

    I loved the letter she wrote to Melissa about the funeral she wanted.

    Everyone should have Meryl Streep crying in several languages at their funeral!!!

    And I love the details of the funeral. We celebrate the dead rather than grieve for their passing.