So sad. Ashley’s family and friends were ‘in tears’ as they laid her to rest on Feb. 13, following her tragic suicide on Feb. 6. Her boyfriend Drew Heissenbuttel, however, was not there, an eyewitness tells HollywoodLife.com exclusively.
Ashley Riggitano, 22, committed suicide on Feb. 6 when she jumped off the George Washington Bridge after she was bullied on Facebook. Approximately 175-200 family and friends came together at Our Lady of Visitation in Paramus, NJ at 10am for her funeral.
An eyewitness tells HollywoodLife.com exclusively, “Almost 200 people were in tears as they prayed to the lord to let Ashley into heaven. Ashley’s boyfriend Drew Hiessenbuttel didn’t show up to the funeral — which is sad. Her parents and sister, however, were in the front pew, as her casket laid in the center of the aisle — it was elegant and beautiful, all white.”
Drew Heissenbuttel Shares His Sorrow Over Ashley’s Death
“Ashley was a gorgeous girl and we had a great relationship,” Drew told Radar Online. “We were on and off for some time but were together again at the time she passed away. She loved me and I loved her back.”
“I knew something was going on with the Facebook feud but I can’t comment on that,” says Drew, from his home in Mooresville, North Carolina. “I need to respect Ashley’s family right now.”
Ashley was reportedly involved in a nasty online battle since January 8 with Alison Tinari over her friendship with Drew.
The Funeral Was So Depressing
“Ashley’s parents and sister were really involved in the funeral, helping with communion, reading the prayers and helping to bring the casket out of the church. It was so depressing,” our source adds.
Ashley’s sister, Jennifer Riggitano, exclusively spoke to HollywoodLife.com on behalf of the Riggitano family: “We will be focusing on the issue publicly within the next few weeks and we are celebrating my sister’s life and we would like everyone to respect our privacy as we grieve.”
Ashley Banned Her Bullies From Her Funeral
We told you that Ashley leapt off the George Washington Bridge into the Hudson River on Feb. 6 leaving behind a note in her Louis Vuitton bag, banning five people, Alison, Teresa Castaldo, Beth Bassil, Samantha Horneff — as well as Ashley’s best friend, and business partner, Victoria Van Thunen, from attending her funeral. These five people were allegedly the ones who bullied her before her death.
The note read: “To any funeral, these people should not be allowed based upon words and actions.”
Our thoughts are with Ashley’s family and friends at this time.
— Chris Rogers, Reporting by Brittany Jackson & Chloe Melas
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Amish Author Sicily Yoder
Posted at 11:26 AM on February 18, 2013
I also have an Ashlee Anne, although her name is spelled differently. Very, very sad. Bullying needs to stop!! Both I and my favorite author have been bullied on FB, and I am Anabaptist.