Joan Rivers Funeral: Dr. Oz Talks About Comedian's Service

Celebrity Dr. Mehmet Oz opened up about Joan Rivers’ funeral Sunday. Howard Stern gave the eulogy, Hugh Jackman performed, Broadway singer-actress Audra McDonald sang “Smile,” the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus sang show-business hits including “Hey Big Spender” and bagpipers played “New York, New York,” CBS News wrote. The legendary comedian wanted a star-studded event for her final send-off, and that’s apparently just what she got.

“My favorite part was she could invite her accountant ... then have Hugh Jackman do a church revival at the end,” Oz told People magazine. “How special is that? She was a unique human being. You had to laugh with her. She was supposed to be on my show the day she died. The last time she was on the show ... I was giving her a hard time about the number of plastic surgeries she’s had, and we were joking around about it, and she said: ‘It’s not the surgery I worry about. It’s the anesthesia.’”

Rivers’ friend Deborah Norville told People Jackman sang “Beautiful Sunday” and “A Wonderful World.” The entertainer had everyone at Temple Emanu-El, on New York’s Fifth Avenue, on their feet and clapping Sunday. “She would love this. We’ve all said this so many times: The one person who would really think this is the greatest thing ever is the lady who it’s all about, and she’s not here,” Norville told CBS News.

Rivers’ daughter Melissa held up well during the service, Norville said. Even though she was “obviously heartbroken,” she was strong for her son Cooper, 13, a source told People. “Melissa was funny, strong, witty and courageous. The best part was the elegance and flow of it all. [Joan] made friends from the moment she was on the planet,” Oz told E News.

Celebrities such as Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Matthew Broderick, Alan Cumming, Kathie Lee Gifford, Kathy Griffin, Rosie O’Donnell, Sarah Jessica Parker, Geraldo Rivera, Diane Sawyer, Donald Trump and Barbara Walters all attended the service at the New York synagogue.

Rivers, 81, helped pave the way for women in comedy. She died at Mount Sinai Hospital Thursday after complications that arose during a throat procedure at Yorkville Endoscopy.

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