(NewsNation) — Friends and family of Ivana Trump will gather Wednesday at St. Vincent Ferrer Church in New York City to celebrate her legacy.
The former model, aged 73, was found dead near the stairs in her apartment last week. The medical examiner ruled Trump’s death an accident. She died of “blunt force trauma” to her torso, according to an official release from the medical examiner’s office.
Ivana was the first wife of former President Trump. The couple were married from 1977 to 1992 and have three children together, as well as nine grandchildren.
Donald and Melania Trump landed in New York Monday night and will attend the funeral, senior story producer Paula Froelich of “Banfield” confirmed to NewsNation.
There are rumors that Melania will not attend the funeral.
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“If Melania shows up, and that’s a big ‘if,’ she’ll only be there to support Donald,” Froelich said.
People magazine also confirmed that Ivana’s three children, Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka, plan to attend the funeral.
Froelich thinks the funeral will be “awesome” and compared it to Joan Rivers’ funeral, which attracted stars including Hugh Jackman, Whoopi Goldberg, Kelly Osbourne and Sarah Jessica Parker.
“Everybody in New York was there. Her casket was carried by the NYPD marching band and they shut down 5th avenue for it.
Businessman Donald Trump and his wife Ivana appear on The Oprah Winfrey Show in Chicago, Illinois, April 25, 1988. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
Before the world knew Ivana as Mrs. Trump, she competed in skiing, starting as a child in Czechoslovakia.
During an interview with the New York Post, Ivanka Trump said that her mother, Ivana, was a “world-class athlete” before the marriage.
Instead of bringing flowers to the funeral, the Trump family asked that guests donate to Big Dog Ranch Rescue.
“Ivana has been philanthropically involved with many charities throughout her life, but has always remained steadfast and passionate in her love of animals. In lieu of flowers, we kindly ask that you support Ivana in her mission to help dogs and donate to Big Dog Rescue Ranch,” the donation page reads.
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