Prince has modest funeral next to a freeway
PRINCE, the multi-millionaire pop star and one of the most famous musicians in the world, was cremated in a modest ceremony that cost just $1,645 (£1,142).
It took place at a suburban funeral home next to a busy freeway and petrol station on the outskirts of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Only a handful of mourners were present including his sister Tyka Nelson and her husband Maurice Phillips, both of whom dressed casually in black leather jackets. The singer’s nephew President was also there.
Following the funeral it emerged that the family is planning a major musical celebration of his life tentatively titled “Prince”. Mr Phillips said the fam- ily would wait to hold it until after the results of a postmortem examination, which are expected in about four weeks.
Miss Nelson, 55, described Friday’s ceremony as “beautiful”. She added: “It’s a sad day and the winds of change have blown out a very bright light but he put a stamp on this world that will never ever fade.
“Prince is not dead, not at all. He can never die, his music is his immortality. He will continue to do what he has been doing for generations and inspire. That is the power of music.”
Following the postmortem Prince’s body was brought to the white clapboard funeral home in a nondescript grey hearse. Inside, there was a basic waiting room for relatives with blue and beige armchairs and tissues provided. A room nearby had shelves full of urns to choose from. The reclusive musician had left instructions for his funeral to be low key. A family member said he had not wanted to “brag”.
A spokeswoman for Prince said the final resting place for his ashes would be “private”.
Friends and relatives, many wearing purple, attended a memorial event at his Paisley Park estate.