Joan Rivers had incredible humor and used it to work through her own life, including imagining what her funeral would be like! In her new book, I Hate Everyone…Starting with Me, she says:

Joan-rivers-funeral

Image: Dan Steinberg, File/Associated Press

“When I die, I want my funeral to be a huge showbiz affair with lights, cameras, action…I want Craft services, I want paparazzi and I want publicists making a scene! I want it to be Hollywood all the way. I don’t want some rabbi rambling on; I want Meryl Streep crying, in five different accents. I don’t want a eulogy; I want Bobby Vinton to pick up my head and sing “Mr. Lonely.” I want to look gorgeous, better dead than I do alive. I want to be buried in a Valentino gown and I want Harry Winston to make me a toe tag. And I want a wind machine so that even in the casket my hair is blowing just like Beyoncé’s.”

Looks like Joan River’s funeral will be this Sunday in New York Synagogue. I hope you get that hollywood funeral, Joan!!

I read somewhere last night (and I wish I could find that quote!) where she mentioned when she dies, she’s going to go quickly. That she’s not going to hang around for a month or whatever. It’s so interesting to me that she died while going to a throat doctor. She was so comfortable with expressing herself, would talk about anything and everything (throat chakra anyone?).

I stayed up late last night to obsess about Joan Rivers and her amazing comedy career. That woman has had some serious balls and was pushing boundaries since the 60’s (and actually the 50’s, traveling around NYC doing tiny comedy gigs). Check her out in her first appearance on the Johnny Carson Show.

I’ve just been in awe watching videos from her comedy career. As a feminist, I admire her stamina and her ability to use her craft to machete through the thicket of life. She really was so comfortable crossing the line again and again, talking about anything and everything that crossed her mind. Mostly, she didn’t give a shit. She just wanted to tell the truth.

Joan Rivers…you went out of this life having a full set of appearances and comedy acts set up… And you were 81 years old. AMAZING! If we could all have this amount of energy… what would our world be like?

I admire her so much, her continued entrepreneurial spirit to make unlimited money so she could enjoy her luxuries,  her ability to talk and think quickly. Have you seen the Joan Rivers show she made, In Bed With Joan? An intimate conversation with other celebrities. I’m obsessed.

When I should have been going to bed, I was pulled in by the Joan Rivers interview on the tonight show with Jimmy Fallon, where I learned about Joan River’s Documentary, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work. It’s available Amazon (rental or to for purchase) and on Netflix. I highly recommend it. I watched the entire thing an my computer had just enough juice to get through to the closing credits. If you want some inspiration on a woman who can get through rejections, hurt, the suicide of her husband and still talk about her vagina falling out, this documentary is for you.

It takes the audience on a year long ride with Joan Rivers in her 75th year of life; it peels away the mask of an iconic comedian, laying bare both the struggle and thrill of living life as a groundbreaking female performer. Filmmakers Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg (The Devil Came on Horseback) expose the private dramas of this irreverent, legendary comedian as she fights to keep her career thriving in a business driven by youth and beauty.

OFFICIAL TRAILER for JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK

Melissa Rivers, I am feeling for you, girl. I am familiar with this feeling of being parent less and sending you lots of love during this challenging time.