Amy Winehouse Funeral Held; Boyfriend Reg Traviss Speaks Out

Amy Winehouse, found dead in her London home on Saturday, was laid to rest on Tuesday in London, in a private funeral that included family and friends. Mark Ronson and Kelly Osbourne were amongst her celebrity friends at the somber affair.

Sky News reports that Winehouse’s ex-husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, was not allowed out of prison for the event; he is currently serving 32 months for violent crimes.

A witness told the British news service that Winehouse’s dad, Mitch, “told some great stories from childhood about how headstrong she was, and clearly the family and friends recognized the stories and laughed along. He stressed so many times she was happier now than she had ever been and he spoke about her boyfriend and paid tribute to a lot of people in her life.”

Winehouse’s most recent boyfriend, Reg Traviss, spoke to the UK’s Sun about his devastating loss, saying that Winehouse had been exercising and in good spirits before she passed.

“I can’t describe what I am going through and I want to thank so much all of the people who have paid their respects and who are mourning the loss of Amy, such a beautiful, brilliant person and my dear love,” he said. “I have lost my darling who I loved very much.”

Autopsy results proved inconclusive on Monday, meaning it will take 2-4 weeks for toxicology tests to provide a cause of death.

UPDATE: Winehouse’s body was cremated on Tuesday.

Amy Winehouse Funeral On Tuesday, July 26

AMY WINEHOUSE

Amy Winehouse’s funeral will take place on Tuesday, July 26th, in accordance with Jewish tradition.

Us Weekly reports that Winehouse will be laid to rest three days after she was found dead in her North London home. An autopsy on her body took place on Monday; the results were inconclusive, and an inquest into a potentially suspicious death was opened. Toxicology test results are expected in two to four weeks.

There have been conflicting reports as to how she may have died; People reported that no drug paraphernalia or signs of usage were found in Winehouse’s home, though the Daily Mirror reported earlier that friends said she died from alcohol and ecstasy use.

Friends and family visited her home on Monday, paying their respects and taking in the makeshift memorial set up by fans both local and abroad.

Amy Winehouse Dead: Singer Found Dead At London Home

Amy Winehouse

Troubled, Grammy-winning singer Amy Winehouse has been found dead in her North London home, Sky News is reporting. The Daily Mail reports that police have confirmed the passing.

In a statement, the London Metropolitan Police said, “Police were called by London Ambulance Service to an address in Camden Square NW1 shortly before 16.05hrs today, Saturday 23 July, following reports of a woman found deceased. On arrival officers found the body of a 27-year-old female who was pronounced dead at the scene. Enquiries continue into the circumstances of the death. At this early stage it is being treated as unexplained.”

A suspected drug overdose took the life of the singer, Nick Buckley of the Sunday Mirror tweeted.

She’s battled drug addiction for years, having most recently checked back into rehabilitation in May.

Winehouse entered treatment in late 2007 for drug problems, including admitted heroin use.

Earlier in the day, Tim Gatt of Sky News tweeted a statement from her manager saying that she was canceling upcoming performances, writing, “Amy Winehouse is withdrawing from all scheduled performances. Everyone involved wishes to do everything they can to help her return to her best and she will be given as long as it takes for this to happen.”

She performed in a surprise appearance at the iTunes Festival on July 20th.

Winehouse has had previous near-death experiences, including one her ex-husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, described in detail back in 2009.

“I knelt over her as she kept on fitting. But then suddenly she just passed out and stopped breathing,” he told The Sun (via NME). It was the most frightening thing I had ever seen. I felt sure I was watching her die right in front of me. I didn’t know what to do or how to save her. I held her to me – and I thought she was dying in my arms. But somehow I managed to open her mouth and breathe air down her throat.”

In January, 2010, she pled guilty to assaulting a theater stage manager.

In 2008, after some confusion, a spokesperson for Winehouse confirmed that she had “early signs of what could lead to emphysema.”

UPDATE: Sky News Home Affairs Correspondent Mark White reports that sources confirmed that Winehouse died of a drug overdose.

UPDATE II: In a statement to Just Jared, Monte and Avery Lipman, heads of Universal Republic Records, said: “We are deeply saddened at the sudden loss of such a gifted musician, artist and performer. Our prayers go out to Amy’s family, friends and fans at this difficult time.”

UPDATE III: Scotland Yard told RadarOnline.com that an autopsy on Winehouse will be performed on Sunday.

“The postmortem has not been scheduled yet but it is unlikely to take place before tomorrow. In the case of a murder it can be done within hours but this is not the case so tomorrow or even Monday is more likely in these circumstances.”

UPDATE IV: Winehouse is one of a curiously high number of prominent artists to pass away at age 27. Here’s a list of a number of those stars, including Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin.

UPDATE V: Winehouse’s spokesman, Chris Goodman, said in a statement (via Buckley): “Everyone who was involved with Amy is shocked and devastated.”

UPDATE VI: Tony Bennett, who recorded the classic pop standard “Body And Soul,” with Winehouse at Abbey Road Studios in London this past March, released a statement to HuffPost and Spinner:

“Amy Winehouse was an artist of immense proportions and I am deeply saddened to learn of her tragic passing. She was an extraordinary musician with a rare intuition as a vocalist and I am truly devastated that her exceptional talent has come to such an early end. She was a lovely and intelligent person and when we recorded together she gave a soulful and extraordinary performance. I was honored to have the opportunity to sing with her. It had been my sincere hope that she would be able to overcome the issues she was battling and I send my deepest sympathy to her father Mitchell, her entire family and all of those who loved her.”

UPDATE VII: Winehouse’s father, Mitch, was en route to New York City for a performance when the death was announced; now that he’s learned of the news, he’s headed back to London, TMZ reports.

UPDATE VIII: The Sunday Mirror will report tomorrow that Winehouse’s death was caused by alcohol and the drug ecstasy.

UPDATE IX: TMZ relays a statement from Superintendent Raj Kohli of the Metropolitan police, saying, “Next of kin have been informed, and I can confirm that officers are now satisfied that the deceased is Amy Winehouse… I am aware of reports suggesting this death is the result of a suspected drugs overdose, but I would like to re-emphasize that no post-mortem examination has yet taken place and it would be inappropriate to speculate on the cause of death.”

UPDATE X: Perez Hilton reports that insiders told him that drugs were not likely an immediate factor in Winehouse’s death, though alcohol may have been.