Business & Tech
Public Memorial Service for Jenni Rivera Scheduled Wednesday in Universal City
Rivera, a 43-year-old Long Beach native, died Dec. 9 when her rented Learjet LJ25 crashed in northern Mexico about 15 minutes after departing Monterrey, Mexico. Six other people aboard also died.
A public memorial service for the late Jenni Rivera will be held Wednesday at Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, according to the singer's family.
Rivera's brother, the Rev. Pedro Rivera Jr., will lead the 10 a.m. ceremony, which is expected to last until noon.
Rivera, a 43-year-old Long Beach native, died Dec. 9 when her rented Learjet LJ25 crashed in northern Mexico about 15 minutes after departing Monterrey, Mexico. Six other people aboard also died.
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The singer was en route to Toluca, outside Mexico City.
There had been some speculation that a memorial service would be held in her native Long Beach, but city officials announced today that although they had been working with the Rivera family, the memorial would be held elsewhere.
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"We appreciate the privacy and discretion given to the family on the day she is laid to rest," according to a family statement. "The burial services will be privately held."
The family requested that in lieu of flowers, fans make donations to the Jenni Rivera Love Foundation, along with a single white rose.
Born in Long Beach, the mother of five who maintained an estate in Encino dominated the "banda" style of regional Mexican music popular in California and northwestern Mexico. She was one of the biggest stars on Mexico television and was popular on "regional Mexican" stations in California.
Rivera lived a tumultuous life, which was the basis for much of her music. She had been married and divorced three times, the last time from former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Esteban Loaiza.
The singer, who sold more than 15 million records, sang songs of heartbreak and abuse. She had her own reality show, and ABC was developing a comedy pilot for her, according to the entertainment website Deadline.com.
Rivera had ties to Fonovisa Records based in Woodland Hills. Gibson Amphitheatre is at 100 Universal City Plaza.
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