Kate Spade’s grieving widow Andy Spade, his brother David and hundreds more have gathered for the fashion designer’s funeral – just hours after the death of her heartbroken father.
The mourners arrived for the funeral service on Thursday afternoon at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Redemptorist Church in Kansas City with many carrying her iconic handbags.
The 55-year-old’s husband Andy and her actor brother-in-law David were spotted outside the church dressed in dark suits.
Her actress niece Rachel Brosnahan arrived with other family members wearing colorful outfits as a tribute to Kate’s love of color.
Kate Spade’s grieving widow Andy Spade arrived for her funeral service on Thursday afternoon at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Redemptorist Church in Kansas City
The fashion designer’s actor brother-in-law David Spade was also spotted outside the church dressed in a dark suit ahead of the funeral service
During the service, the congregation sang The First Noel and a rendition of Imagine, Kate’s favorite song, was also played.
The cover of the funeral program included a picture of Kate with her daughter Frances Beatrice. The photo was taken when Beatrice, now aged 13, was a toddler
Her husband of 24 years gave the eulogy and other members of her family, including her brother, also spoke.
The cover of the funeral program included a picture of Kate with her daughter Frances Beatrice. The photo was taken when Beatrice, now aged 13, was a toddler.
As the service began on Thursday, Kate’s family released a statement saying her 89-year-old father Earl F. Brosnahan Jr. had died on the eve of his daughter’s funeral.
The family said he had been in failing health and had been left ‘heartbroken’ over his daughter’s suicide just over two weeks ago.
‘He had been in failing health of late and was heartbroken over the recent death of his beloved daughter,’ the statement read.
‘He was at home and surrounded by family at the time of his passing.
‘Frank was born in Kansas City, MO, and was a lifelong resident.
‘He served in the US Navy before graduating from the University of Miami in 1949, after which he returned to Kansas City to work in the family construction business.
‘He was president of the Midwest Heavy Construction Association in the mid 1960s, after taking over the family business from his father, Earl F. Brosnahan Sr. and his mother Helen Rose Brosnahan.
Funeral directors carry the remains of Kate Spade from her funeral service in Kansas City on Thursday afternoon
As the service began on Thursday, Kate’s family released a statement saying her 89-year-old father Earl F. Brosnahan Jr. (right with his other daughter Eve) had died on the eve of his daughter’s funeral
Rachel Brosnahan, Kate’s actress niece, wore a pale blue suit and white heels to the service in tribute to her aunt’s love of color
Carrying a can of coffee in one hand and a notepad in the other, Andy arrived in a chauffeured car to the service
Kate Spade’s brother-in-law, the actor David Spade, is pictured entering her funeral on Thursday in Kansas City, Missouri
Hundreds of mourners, some dressed in splashes of color, gather outside the church following the designer’s funeral
‘Frank married June Therese Mullen in 1953 and had six children, Missy, Earl III, Ann, Reta, Katy (deceased) and Eve.
‘He was an avid tennis player and a charter member of the Carriage Club in Kansas City for more than 50 years.
‘Frank married Sandy Palmer in 1992 and she was bedside when he passed.
‘Later in life Frank took up gold and was a great lover of his two Yorkshire terriers. He was especially proud of his wife, children and grandchildren.’
His daughter Kate, one of his six children, was found hanged in her New York City apartment on June 5.
Her husband Andy, with whom she built the accessories empire on the popularity of her colorful handbags, said after her death that his wife had suffered from depression and anxiety for more than 15 years but there had been no indication that she would take her own life.
She left a suicide note for her teenager daughter, which made references to marital problems.
Kate and Andy had been living separately in the months before her death.
The order of the mass from Thursday’s service. The congregation sang The First Noel and heard her favorite song ‘Imagine’. Her husband, Andy, gave one of the eulogies and other members of her family gave readings
Funeral directors carry the remains of Kate Spade into Our Lady of Perpetual Help Redemptorist Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday ahead of the late fashion designer’s funeral
Mourner arrived wearing splashes of color as a tribute to Kate’s bright character
Many of those arriving at the funeral service were carrying the designer’s iconic Kate Spade handbags