Joan Rivers Gets Her Star-Studded Sendoff

Howard Stern pays tribute to 'crazy aunt at Bar Mitzvah'
By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 7, 2014 11:00 AM CDT
Joan Rivers Gets Her Star-Studded Sendoff
Barbara Walters arrives at a funeral service for comedian Joan Rivers at Temple Emanu-El in New York, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014.   (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

No word on whether Meryl Streep is crying in five different accents, but Joan Rivers' funeral is under way at Temple Emanu-El in New York, and the private event is basically one rather large name-drop. Luminaries including Howard Stern, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Griffin, Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters, Kelly Osbourne, Diane Sawyer began lining up this morning, reports the AP. Stern paid tribute to Rivers, notes People, calling her "the best friend in the world … a big sister ... a crazy aunt at Bar Mitzvah." Fans also turned out, with one telling Page Six, "I used to see her walking around Manhattan. She was so real. What you saw was who she was."

The back of the program read thusly, as per People: "Can we talk?" "Who are you wearing?" " ... Because I'm a funny person ... " – JOAN RIVERS (More Joan Rivers stories.)

Joan Rivers Gets Her Star-Studded Sendoff
Donald Trump arrives at a funeral service for comedian Joan Rivers at Temple Emanu-El in New York, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014.   (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Joan Rivers Gets Her Star-Studded Sendoff
Television news anchor Diane Sawyer, upper right, arrives at a funeral service for comedian Joan Rivers at Temple Emanu-El in New York, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014.   (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Joan Rivers Gets Her Star-Studded Sendoff
Howard Stern arrives at a funeral service for comedian Joan Rivers at Temple Emanu-El in New York, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014.   (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Joan Rivers Gets Her Star-Studded Sendoff
Kelly Osbourne arrives at a funeral service for comedian Joan Rivers at Temple Emanu-El in New York, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014.   (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Joan Rivers Gets Her Star-Studded Sendoff
A note and flowers are part of a sidewalk memorial for comedian Joan Rivers at the doorstep of her apartment building, Friday, Sept. 5, 2014 in New York.   (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)
Joan Rivers Gets Her Star-Studded Sendoff
In this Feb. 14, 2012 file photo, Joan Rivers tours backstage with her camera crew for E!'s "Fashion Police.   (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)