Joan Rivers Cancels Birthday Party Following Sister’s Death

Joan Rivers reportedly canceled her birthday party following the death of her sister.

The talented comedienne and Fashion Police host had a pretty big bash lined up at the Metropolitan Club to celebrate her 80th birthday. Although 300 people were invited to attend the festivities scheduled for Wednesday, she decided to scrap the plans after learning of her sister’s passing.

Rivers said that her sister, power attorney Barbara Waxler, was supportive of her comedy career early on. The comedienne credits her late sister with encouraging her sense of humor at a very early age.

Waxler’s obituary stated that she died “surrounded by loved ones.” However, a cause of death has not been made public as of this writing. The funeral service will be held in West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Pennsylvania.

Joan Rivers hasn’t made a lengthy public statement regarding her sister’s death. However, she did post an old photograph of Waxler on her Twitter page with the caption: “Rest in Peace.”

The Fashion Police host told TV Guide that she wasn’t the only member of her family with a natural gift for comedy. According to her, the entire family was hilarious.

“My father was a doctor and he was so funny people would laugh until they died. And my sister [Barbara] is a lawyer but she has great humor. And my grandson [Edgar] is funny and Melissa. You learn to see things crooked. When the whole family laughs at funny things it makes a big difference,” she told the publication.

Barbara Cushman Waxler.Rest in peace. twitter.com/Joan_Rivers/st…

— Joan Rivers (@Joan_Rivers) June 5, 2013

Joan Rivers has yet to say whether or not her 80th birthday celebration at the Metropolitan Club will be rescheduled.

Fans of the comedienne will be able to see swap lives with Bristol Palin during the summer premiere of Celebrity Wife Swap. The episode is all set to air on June 23.

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[Image via Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com]