Mourners to gather for private Joan Rivers funeral

American comedian Joan Rivers, whose funeral takes place tomorrow. Picture: PA

The 81-year-old, who died on Thursday having been taken to hospital less than a week earlier after suffering a cardiac arrest during a routine medical procedure, has been described as “extraordinary”.

Tributes have been paid by celebrities and fellow comics as well as the Prince of Wales, whose wedding in 2005 the comedian attended.

He said: “Joan Rivers was an extraordinary woman with an original and indefatigable spirit, an unstoppable sense of humour and an enormous zest for life. She will be hugely missed and utterly irreplaceable.”

Rivers had also performed for Charles, the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry at the We Are Most Amused comedy gala, in aid of the Prince’s Trust, for Charles’s 60th birthday.

The New York City medical examiner said more tests are required to find out the cause of the mother-of-one’s death.

Her funeral will take place at Temple Emanu-El in New York but no further details have been released.

Rivers’ daughter Melissa said she and her son Cooper had been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the public.

“Cooper and I have found ourselves humbled by the outpouring of love, support, and prayers we have received from 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.”

Rivers’ husband Rosenberg, died in 1987.