Brian Bowen Smith/E!It's been over a month since Joan Rivers tragically passed away at the age of 81, but only now is her official cause of death able to be confirmed.
On Thursday, the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner issued the following statement:
"OCME has completed its investigation. The cause of Ms. Rivers' death is anoxic encephalopathy due to hypoxic arrest during laryngoscopy and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with propofol sedation for evaluation of voice changes and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The manner of death is therapeutic complication.
"The classification of a death as a therapeutic complication means that the death resulted from a predictable complication of medical therapy."
"In response to today's release of the New York City Medical Examiner's report, we continue to be saddened by our tragic loss and grateful for the enormous outpouring of love and support from around the world," Joan's daughter, Melissa Rivers, wrote on Facebook. "We have no further comment at this time."
On Sept. 4, the day of Joan's passing, Melissa issued a statement on behalf of herself and son Cooper, thanking fans for "the outpouring of love, support and prayers we have received around the world."
"They have been heard and appreciated," she said. "My mother's greatest joy in life was to make people laugh. Although that is difficult to do right now, I know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon."
Joan's family and friends did, indeed, honor her final wish at her star-studded funeral Sept. 7. The tearful, emotional and often humorous service, conducted by Rabbi Joshua Davidson at Temple Emanu-El, a Reform Jewish synagogue in New York City, even included a loving and appropriately crass eulogy delivered by Howard Stern.
There were performances from the New York City Gay Men's Chorus as well as New York City Police Department Emerald Society bagpipers and drummers. A number of Broadway stars, including Hugh Jackman and Audra McDonald, sang to memorialize the beloved icon.
"When they started with an X-rated joke and the rabbi was bowing his head I think it was joyful more than sorrow," Geraldo Rivera told E! News. "Filled with laughter. It was as if she wrote it herself. I thought it was a wonderful, positive upbeat time."
Whoopi Goldberg agreed, tweeting that Joan was "given a truly funny, truly loving send off by folks who loved her," calling it, "funny [and] deeply moving, much like her."
Daughter Melissa delivered her own hilarious, yet heartfelt, eulogy at her mother's funeral, which was later published in The Hollywood Reporter. It was joke-filled and lighthearted, but Melissa's absolute love for her mother was unmistakable. "I love having you live with me, and I am grateful for every minute Cooper and I have with you," she said. "You are an inspiration. You are also 30 days late with the rent."
Joan is survived by her daughter and 13-year-old grandson, Cooper. We continue to keep them, as well as the rest of her family and friends, in our thoughts and prayers.
(Originally published Oct. 16, 2014, at 10:50 a.m PT)