Kathie Lee Gifford is doing everything she can to honor her late husband, Frank Gifford's, legacy.
To do that, the Today show co-host had to think about all of the things Frank did and didn't enjoy. Funerals ranked at the top of the list of things the former NFL star hated, so she nixed that idea from the get-go. Frank was not going to get a funeral.
"We had a party," Kathie Lee explained Tuesday morning. "Frank hated funerals. He hated boxes. He hated to be put in boxes. He hated to get in an elevator, so we played Frank Sinatra all day long and we partied. The only criterion was if you were there you had to be somebody that he adored, so it kept it nice and small."
But with the "outpouring" of support from friends, fans and the Twittersphere, Kathie Lee realized everyone should have the opportunity to pay their respects as she and her small gathering did. It will start with the New York Giants, who Kathie Lee revealed have a very special tribute planned for the fall football season.
"The [New York Giants] just announced they're going to honor Frank and Ann Mara, the matriarch of the wonderful Mara family...on their uniforms this season," Kathie Lee revealed. "We'll have number 16 on their helmets to honor Frank."
In addition, Kathie Lee explained that she is trying to plan something, not a "service" because "he'll boomerang it," for the public to attend to honor the fallen footballer. Nothing is set in stone yet, but she said she realized she had to do something after receiving so many wonderful tweets from fans.
The fourth hour co-host returned to work Monday following the Aug. 9 death of her husband. Upon taking her seat next to Hoda Kotb, Kathie Lee opened up about her late husband and his faith. "I just want everyone to know this was a man at complete peace in his life. He might've been the happiest, most content man at this point in his life," Kathie Lee said of Frank.
She also said he "trusted in a living God—not a religion, but a living God," and passed away while getting ready for mass. I keep expecting him to, you know, go, 'What time is church?' He passed away instantly that morning, all dressed in what he knew was my favorite outfit. White shirt, very tight black jeans—he knew he looked good. Having his coffee, watching his TV, getting ready to go ready for church, excited about what we were going to have for lunch."
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