NEW YORK (AP) — Ivana Trump, the 1980s style icon and businesswoman who helped Donald Trump build the empire that put him on the path to the White House, lived a “beautiful life,” recalls the former president as his loved ones paid their last respects to her Wednesday.
The former president joined all of his children, a host of other relatives and friends at a Manhattan church for Ivana Trump’s funeral mass.
“A very sad day but at the same time a celebration of a wonderful and beautiful life,” he wrote on his social media platform Truth Social before he, former first lady Melania Trump and their son Barron headed to St. Vincent Ferrer Roman Catholic Church. located just a few blocks from Ivana Trump’s home near Central Park.
Ivana and Donald Trump’s three children — Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric — stood with their father and their families as the gold-toned casket was carried out of the church. Eric Trump briefly put his arm around his sister’s shoulders as she held the hand of one of her young children, who was clutching a red flower.
Tiffany Trump, the former president’s daughter and his second wife Marla Maples, also attended the service, as did family friends including Janine Pirro, co-anchor of Fox News’ “The Five,” and Charles Kushner, a real estate developer and father of Ivanka Trump’s husband, Jared Kushner. Fashion designer Dennis Basso, a longtime friend of Ivana Trump, was also among the mourners.
The liturgy was “an elegant, beautiful send-off for Ivana Trump,” another longtime friend, R. Currie Hay, said as he emerged.
Trump’s family said Thursday that the 73-year-old had died at her home. Authorities said the death was an accident, with the cause being blunt force trauma to the torso.
Ivana and Donald Trump met in the 1970s and were married from 1977 to 1992. In the 1980s they were a power couple and she became well known in her own right, instantly recognizable with her blonde hair and your glamorous look.
Ivana Trump has also been involved in her husband’s business, running one of his casinos in Atlantic City and choosing some of the design elements of Trump Tower in New York.
Their very public divorce was ugly, but in recent years they have been amicable. Ivana Trump was an enthusiastic supporter of Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and said they spoke regularly.
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Associated Press writer Jennifer Peltz contributed.
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