

Joan Rivers sadly passed away on Sept. 4 at the age of 81 years old after being taken off of life support by her daughter, Melissa Rivers, 46. In these first photos of Melissa since Joan’s death, you can see that she looks utterly heartbroken, but she’s determined to give her mother the funeral she always wanted.
Melissa stepped out of Mount Sinai Hospital with her son, Cooper Endicott, 13, alongside her as they made the sad journey home on Sept. 4
“Joan didn’t want to suffer, and Mel knew that. Mel will never be the same,” a source close to the family previously revealed to HollywoodLife.com. So tragic.
Joan was rushed into emergency care on Aug. 28 after she stopped breathing during throat surgery; while the family appeared initially hopeful about health, Joan was removed from life support on Sept. 4 just a couple of days after being taken out of her medically-induced coma.
Joan’s funeral is scheduled for Sept. 7; the comedian and Fashion Police host once joked in her memoir I Hate Everyone… Starting With Me that she wanted a funeral fit for Hollywood:
“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. 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 like Beyoncé’s.”
Melissa is determined to give Joan her final wish.
Joan will have a red carpet at her funeral in NYC, a source told Us Weekly. The rug, which Joan’s family and friends will walk upon outside Temple Emanu-El, will then be buried with the legendary comedienne.
Our thoughts continue to go out to Melissa and the rest of Joan’s family and friends during this difficult time.
— Amanda Mitchell