Entertainment

Actions

Joan Rivers Funeral: What's Been Planned And What She Wanted

The late Joan Rivers' funeral will be held Sunday. But even before she died, Rivers had an idea of what she wanted the service to look like.
Posted

Funeral plans for the late Joan Rivers are being finalized.

According to several reports, the legendary comedian will be laid to rest Sunday following a service at Temple Emanu-El in her hometown of New York City. 

Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson told ABC in a statement, "We mourn with her family, friends and all those millions to whom she brought laughter and joy."

It's unclear what time the funeral will begin or if members of the public will be allowed to attend.

But we do know what Rivers herself wanted for her funeral.

An excerpt from her 2012 book "I Hate Everyone... Starting with Me" that's gone viral since her death explains in detail what Rivers hoped her funeral would look like. (Video via YouTube / Penguin Books USA)

"I want my funeral to be a huge showbiz affair with lights, cameras, action... I want Meryl Streep crying, in five different accents... I want to look gorgeous, better dead than I do alive... And I want a wind machine so that even in the casket my hair is blowing just like Beyoncé's."

In that same book, Rivers also wrote about how she wanted to die.

"I have no intention of being sick or lingering or dragging on and on and boring everyone I know. I have no intention of coughing and wheezing for months on end."

As many media outlets fondly pointed out, we really couldn't expect anything else from Rivers, who was known for her rapid fire jokes and her ability to turn somewhat uncomfortable subjects into hilarious comedy.

JOAN RIVERS: "Like torture's bad. Get a Brazilian wax! You'll give up secrets that you never knew you had."

As NPR pointed out, she even built an entire standup routine around caring for a handicapped boyfriend for her 2012 standup special "Don't Start With Me." (Video via Certified Funny)

Rivers passed away on Thursday afternoon at the age of 81. She had been hospitalized in New York City since Aug. 28 after she stopped breathing during an outpatient procedure on her vocal cords.

This video includes images from Getty Images.