Giuliana Rancic Opens Up About Joan Rivers' Funeral Service: It "Was Exactly What She Would Have Wanted"

"There wasn't just laughter, there was roaring laughter," the E! News anchor said of the ceremony

By Alyssa Toomey Sep 10, 2014 4:27 PMTags
Fashion Police, Joan Rivers, Giuliana RancicE!

Giuliana Rancic was understandably devastated after the loss of her dear friend Joan Rivers, whom she worked with for the last 13 years, but when it came to saying her final goodbyes, the E! News anchor says the late comic legend's life was honored in the perfect flashy and laughter-filled fashion. 

"It was exactly what she would have wanted," Rancic, who co-hosted Fashion Police with the iconic comedienne, told People of Rivers' funeral, which took place on Sunday at a memorial at Temple Emanu-El, a Reform Jewish synagogue in New York City, where Rivers was remembered by family and friends, including at least 40 celebrities

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. The funeral also included jokes by her friend, SiriusXM radio host Howard Stern, while Joan's daughter, Melissa Rivers, read a sweet letter to her mother as her other pals shared touching tributes. 

"Joan said in her book [her 2012 New York Times best-seller I Hate Everyone...Starting With Me] that she would want lights, camera, action and people lined up outside and paparazzi, and she got it," Rancic said of the service, which she attended just three days after her beloved pal passed away at the age of 81 after being taken off life support following complications she suffered while undergoing a throat operation in New York City on Aug. 28.

"There were tears, there wasn't just laughter, there was roaring laughter, and there were such funny moments," Ranic continued. "We were hysterically laughing with tears streaming down our face. It was great, really beautiful, touching." 

While Rivers originally landed in the spotlight in 1965 during a guest appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson before later becoming a permanent guest host in 1983, the funnylady had been hosting Fashion Police alongside Giuliana Rancic, Kelly Osbourne and George Kotsiopoulos since 2010.

E!

"I remember just when she was about to deliver a joke, she would start it and you could tell it was going to be really edgy," Rancic recalled of her hilarious co-host. "Joan would start laughing and she couldn't deliver the punch line because she would be laughing at her own joke so hard knowing what was coming." 

And in typical Joan fashion, she knew that laughter was the best medicine until her very last breathe. 

"After all these years, she still found the funny in everything," Giuliana said of her warmhearted friend. 

"It is almost impossible to describe how much I adored Joan and how much she has meant to me," Rancic said in a statement on the day of the comedic icon's passing. "She was not only the funniest woman I have ever met but was incredibly loving, honest, and lived her life with no regrets. Working with her for the last 13 years has been one of the true joys of my life. She could put a smile on your face, instantly, no matter how hard your day was."

Rest in peace, Joan. We're happy to know heaven's a whole lot funnier.