Melissa Rivers remembers her mum, Joan Rivers one year later

Friday is one year since Joan Rivers’ death, and Melissa Rivers is marking the occasion with a heartfelt statement about grief, fan support, and life without her colorful mother. 

The former "Fashion Police" host died on September 4, 2014 at age 81, one week after she stopped breathing during a routine outpatient medical procedure on her throat. She went into cardiac arrest and, after being rushed to the hospital, was placed in a medically-induced coma. Despite her age, Joan was considered to be in relatively good health, and her death sent shockwaves through Hollywood.

Of course, no one was more shocked or devastated than Melissa and her son Cooper. In a statement posted to Joan’s Twitter account on Friday morning, she says:

“Today marks one year since my mother passed. This was the year of firsts: first birthdays, first everything without mom, without grandma. While it’s been difficult, I’ve been amazed by the outpouring of love and overwhelming kindness we’ve received from family, friends and people whose lives were touched by the woman they knew as Joan — a woman we all miss so very much.”