Rivera’s Memorial Service Draws Thousands

La Diva de La Banda’s family, friends and fans have bid her el último adios at an emotional memorial in Los Angeles…

Thousands on Wednesday morning attended Jenni Rivera’s memorial service, which her family dubbed a celestial graduation,  at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, which hosted a memorial for an artist for the first time ever, to celebrate the Mexican-American singer’s life.

Jenni Rivera Memorial Service

The memorial, a mixture of laughter, tears and celebration, featured Rivera’s fans often singing loudly along to her videos and the live performances by her friends and family.

During the service, Rivera’s five children, her parents and brothers each took the stage to eulogize the singer, including Rivera’s daughter Jacquie Melina Campos, who said, “My mother was perfectly imperfect.”  Rivera’s youngest son, 11-year-old Johnny Lopez, spoke in what he called “the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

Pedro Rivera, the family patriarch and the man who helped Rivera launch her career as an artist and a businesswoman, fought hard to keep tears at bay during the two-hour service, but still managed to perform a corrido in his daughter’s honor, accompanied by a full banda.

The event was hosted by the Rivera’s family, including brother and fellow banda Lupillo Rivera; and brother Juan Rivera, a pastor and singer who often opened Jenni’s shows and who welcomed those in attendance.

 

“She has many plans,” said Juan Rivera, speaking of his sister in the present tense and hinting at possibilities for the Jenni Rivera brand and name. “So we have a lot of work to do. So many times I introduced her in her shows: The queen of queens, the Diva of Banda, La Gran Señora and, because you made it this way, I will proudly say, No. 1: Jenni!”

Although the theater was packed mostly by fans who paid $1 on Ticketmaster to purchase refundable tickets (arranged that way to avoid scalping), there was also a number of executives and celebrities, including Marco Antonio Solís; Joan Sebastian, who performed “Más Allá del Sol;” Ana Gabriel, who performed the ranchera hit “Paloma Negra;” Olga Tañón, who performed “Mirame” and Gloria Trevi.

The ceremony included an impassioned sermon by Juan Rivera, who quoted from Ecclesiastes: “There is a time to be born and a time to die… Jenni passed through many tough situations in her life, and she was able to stand up after each one of them, because she had the power of God and the power in herself. She lived a victorious life. She never gave up.”

 

The service culminated with the band gathered around the coffin and fans filing past, leaving white roses.

Rivera, who will be laid to rest later in a private ceremony, was traveling on a private Learjet the morning of December 9 when her plane crashed in the outskirts of Monterrey, Mexico.

Rivera’s Memorial Service to Be Held in LA on Wednesday

It’ll be a celestial graduation for la Diva de la Banda

Jenni Rivera’s family has arranged for a special memorial service at the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal City Walk to give her fans the chance to the late Mexican-American singer.

Jenni Rivera

The ceremony, called a “Celestial Graduation” by Rivera’s family, will take place from 10:00 am to noon this Wednesday, December 19 and will be led by Rivera’s brother, minister Pedro Rivera Jr.

“We will celebrate the graduation into heaven, with honors, of our beloved mother, daughter and sister Jenni Rivera,” the family said in a statement obtained by The Los Angeles Times. “The Rivera Family appreciates all the love given to our beloved Jenni Rivera who graduated on Dec. 9 and now rests in the arms of our Lord.”

The family also requested privacy and discretion for a private burial that will be held separately.

In lieu of flowers, Rivera’s children asked that donations be made to the Jenni Rivera Love Foundation, as well as a single white rose.

Rivera, 48, died when the aircraft she was aboard plummeted from 28,000 feet into a mountainous area in northern Mexico. Six others accompanied her on the plane, including her stylist and attorney. There were no survivors.

At the time of the crash, Rivera was on her way to a performance in the city of Toluca, 40 miles southwest of Mexico City, following a concert in Monterrey on Saturday evening. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation.