Joan Rivers' daughter Melissa visits funeral home to make arrangements for Sunday service as the comedienne's former voice coach questions procedures at Manhattan clinic

• Rivers wrote in her 2013 memoir she wanted her funeral to be a Hollywood affair with movie stars like Meryl Streep and paparazzi everywhere 
• Autopsy performed on Joan Rivers, 81, found no cause of death pending additional tests
• Manhattan clinic that is being reviewed  by health officials over Rivers' throat surgery has been receiving death threats 
• Dr Lillian Glass who treated Rivers in the late 80s posed questions about the level of staff training and quality of equipment at the clinic  

By Annette Witheridge and Snejana Farberov For Mailonline

Published: 12:58 EST, 5 September 2014 | Updated: 16:15 EST, 5 September 2014

Melissa Rivers was busy Friday making preparations for her mother's funeral set to take place Sunday, which is expected to be a star-studded affair - just like Joan wanted.

In life, Rivers, 81, loved glamour and attention, and if her 2013 memoir is to be believed, she wanted to die as she lived - in the limelight and surrounded by celebrities.

'When I die (and yes, Melissa, that day will come; and yes, Melissa, everything’s in your name), 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!' she wrote in 'I Hate Everyone... Starting With Me.'

Scroll down for video 

Somber task: Melissa Rivers, the only daughter of Joan Rivers, arrives to a funeral home on the Upper East Side to make plans for her mother's funeral in New York City

General view outside the Frank E. Campbell funeral home on the Upper East Side of Manhattan where Melissa Rivers was seen making arrangements for her mother

Melissa Rivers arrives at funeral home in NYC

“I don’t want some rabbi rambling on; I want Meryl Streep crying, in five different accents,' the funnywoman wrote.

'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.;

Known for her dramatic flair, Rivers had voiced one final wish: to have a 'wind machine so that even in the casket' her hair would be 'blowing just like Beyonce’s.'

Earlier today, Melissa Rivers was spotted visiting Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home on the Upper East Side, which is handling the 81-year-old star's final arrangements. 

Glamorous: Rivers wrote in a memoir published last year that she wanted her funeral to be a grand Hollywood affair packed with mourning celebrities and paparazzi 

'It’s humbling,' a somber Ms Rivers, 41, told a gaggle of reporters when asked about the outpouring of grief for her mother, the New York Daily News. 

The funeral for Rivers will take place Sunday at Temple Emmanu El, a Jewish Reform synagogue. 

E! reported that the event will be closed to the press and the public, and all the mourners will be admitted by invitation only. 

The legendary comedienne died in a Manhattan hospital Thursday, a week after she went into cardiac arrest during a routine throat procedure.

In a statement, her daughter said the 81-year-old passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family.

On Friday, the medical examiner's office stated that an autopsy has been performed on Rivers' body but no cause or manner of death could be found.

Pathologists will conduct additional tests and interview doctors who were present during Rivers' surgery at Yorkville Endoscopy last week to shed light on the case. 

Under scrutiny: Yorkville Endoscopy, where Rivers went to get a surgery on her vocal cords last week, is now being investigated by health officials 

It was announced Thursday that the New York State Department of Health has launched an investigation into the clinic in connection to Rivers' operation. 

TMZ reported that the medical facility has been receiving death threats from Rivers' angry fans since her hospitalization last Thursday.

One of the menacing massages stated: 'If Joan dies, so will you.'

Another supporter of the beloved comic allegedly said: 'I hope you people die, you killed an icon.'

In light of the hostility, the clinic has hired additional security guards and has been sending employees home early. 

Dr Lillian Glass, who treated Rivers in 1987 after she had been diagnosed with vocal cord stress, said: 'It is devastating for Joan's family. She apparently went in for a diagnostic procedure and even if something natural – such as cardiac arrest – happened, why wasn't she saved?

'Where were the trained medical staff and the equipment to help her? We have equipment on planes, why wasn't the right equipment in a medical facility?

In her own words: Rivers described her perfect funeral in her 2013 autobiography 

Dr Glass, who has worked with Hollywood giants Will Smith, Sean Connery, Dustin Hoffman and Nicholas Cage on voice training for movie roles, added: 'Why was she deprived of oxygen for so long when there were doctors there trained to deal with emergencies?'

'Joan was 81 but she was so vibrant, so full of energy. It is a tragedy'.

Yorkville Endoscopy opened 18 months ago and specializes in digestive disorders. It is owned by 12 highly-respected gastroenterologists, who are affiliated with the nearby Mount Sinai, Lenox Hill and New York Presbyterian hospitals. To date, the clinic has not been the subject of any complaints or violations.

According to the clinic's website, there are five state-of-the-art procedure rooms and ambulatory surgical services.

Clinic spokeswoman Tisha Kresler told MailOnline that HIPAA laws prevented staff from disclosing any information about patients.

But the clinic issued a statement after Rivers died saying: 'In the event of an adverse incident, Yorkville Endoscopy would promptly report to appropriate government and regulatory agencies and would proactively co-operate with any government review.'

Any investigation will also include any liability or medical release forms the star signed before the procedure.

It is not known exactly what throat procedure Rivers went to Yorkville for as an outpatient.

Her spokesman said she went in for a minor procedure on her vocal cords.

But it is likely to have involved a form of endoscopy, where a camera is inserted into the patient's mouth and down into the body.

The clinic's own website explains that prior to an endoscopy, patients either have their throat sprayed with a local anesthetic or are be given a sedative.

'The endoscopy doesn't interfere with your breathing. Most patients consider the test only slightly uncomfortable and many patients fall asleep during the procedure,' the website says.

'Although complications can occur, they are rare when doctors who are specially trained in this procedure perform the test.

'Some patients might have a reaction to the sedatives or complications from heart or lung disease. Although complications after upper endoscopy are very uncommon, it's important to recognize early signs of possible complications.'

Tough questions: Dr Lillian Glass, who treated Rivers in 1987 for vocal stress, demands to know why the comic was not saved by staff at the endoscopy center

Full of life: Rivers had a full schedule and appeared on stage before surgery; doctors reportedly gave her a clean bill of health gearing up towards the outpatient procedure on her throat 

There has been no official reason given for Rivers' adverse reaction to the procedure.

According to RadarOnline, Rivers was given a clean bill of health by doctors, including her cardiologist, before she went to Yorkville.

She was pictured in fine form on stage in New York the night before and was due to perform again in New Jersey Friday night.

'She was in very good health for an 81-year-old woman,' a family insider told Radar. 'There was no indication from a medical standpoint that Joan should have suffered from any complications. It was a routine procedure.'

Sources claimed to MailOnline that the star could have suffered from laryngospasm - involuntary muscular spasms around the vocal cords that can block the airways. It is a terrifying experience, but they usually last less than 60 seconds.

However, if Joan suffered a spasm during an endoscopy, doctors are usually able to hyperextend their necks quickly and give her 100 per cent oxygen. In worse cases, muscle relaxants are given.

There have also been claims that Rivers was given Propofol – the anesthetic that killed Michael Jackson – to sedate her.

But Hollywood-based Dr Glass believes the star would only have been lightly sedated.

Coach to the stars: : Dr Glass has been an expert on speech and deafness and has helped many people, including celebrities with their public speaking

'If this was just a diagnostic test or small procedure, she would have received the sort of anesthetic you need for a routine tooth extraction,' she told MailOnline.

'She would have been awake and sitting upright. The doctor needs her to be alert. The patient needs to be able to say "ah" so that he can see how her vocal cords react.

'This is essentially a simple, pain free procedure. How did Joan end up dead after something so simple?

'Joan apparently told friends the night before she was having a simple procedure. She wasn't worried about it. I don't think she would lie about her treatment. She's always been so open about everything she does, including her plastic surgery.

'So I don't think she would say she was having a throat procedure if she was really having, say, a colonoscopy.

'Joan had vocal problems around the time her husband died in 1987. We worked together to solve those problems.

'Her voice was very raspy and hoarse. She was putting pressure on her vocal cords. A lot of entertainers have problems with their throats because they are constantly using them.

'Joan was concerned about her voice and the hoarseness. She was referred to me and we worked on exercises. She took it seriously and did very well.

'Knowing she had problems all those years ago, she clearly had regular checks.

'The endoscopy allows the physician to observe the structure and dynamic motion of the vocal cords.

'The scope is passed along the floor of the nose, into the back of the throat, to a level just above the vocal cords.

'As the patient says "ah" the doctor will observe the reaction of the vocal cords on a video screen. It is a simple procedure.

'So if Joan was going through this simple, non-invasive, non-life threatening procedure, is should not have happened. This was a needless death.

'Why was her airway cut off? Did someone do the procedure improperly? Was a technician doing this or a licensed physician? I ask these questions because it seems odd that her airway was cut off.'

Dr Glass has been an expert on speech and deafness for decades and has helped many people, including celebrities with their public speaking.

The year before she started working with Rivers, she trained deaf actress Marlee Martin to speak in public for the first time when she accepted her Oscar for Children of a Lesser God.

Her research on genetic deafness and dental abnormalities has been published in respected medical publications including the New England Journal of Medicine.

In recent years, 62-year-old Dr Glass has become a body language expert and best-selling author.

Comments (93)

Share what you think

• Newest
• Oldest
• Best rated
• Worst rated

 View all

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

Enter your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Submit Comment Clear

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now