READ: Melissa Rivers’ Statement About Her Mother

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By Anne Cohen September 4, 2014

Joan Rivers, Jewish queen of sass, is sadly no longer with us.

The 81-year-old comedian passed away on Thursday after a week in the hospital — she went into cardiac arrest last week during surgery. Her daughter Melissa, who flew to New York with her son Cooper to care for her mother, has released a statement thanking fans for their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

YOU CAN IMAGINE HER AND ROBIN LAUGHING IN HEAVEN. It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my mother, Joan Rivers. She passed peacefully at 1:17pm surrounded by family and close friends. My son and I would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff of Mount Sinai Hospital for the amazing care they provided for my mother.

Cooper and I have found ourselves humbled by the outpouring of love, support, and prayers we have received from around the world. They have been heard and appreciated.

My mother’s greatest joy in life was to make people laugh. Although that is difficult to do right now, I know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon.

Robin and Joan…That is just not okay.

Anne Cohen was the Forward’s deputy digital media editor. When she’s not looking for the secret Jewish history of Voodoo in New Orleans, or making lists about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, she writes for The Assimilator. She graduated from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism with an M.S. magazine concentration in 2012.

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