Unforgettable! Inside Natalie Cole's Heartbreaking Funeral
![Natalie Cole Funeral](https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/vB3Dw_2Fu/480x251/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral.jpg?position=top 480w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/vB3Dw_2Fu/640x335/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral.jpg?position=top 640w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/vB3Dw_2Fu/768x402/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral.jpg?position=top 768w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/vB3Dw_2Fu/1024x536/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral.jpg?position=top 1024w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/vB3Dw_2Fu/1280x670/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral.jpg?position=top 1280w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/vB3Dw_2Fu/1440x753/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral.jpg?position=top 1440w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/vB3Dw_2Fu/1600x837/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral.jpg?position=top 1600w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/vB3Dw_2Fu/2160x1130/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral.jpg?position=top 2160w)
Jan. 11 2016, Updated 11:13 p.m. ET
![Natalie Cole Funeral](https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/NXnNIaRTJ/480x300/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral.jpg 480w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/NXnNIaRTJ/640x400/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral.jpg 640w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/NXnNIaRTJ/768x480/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral.jpg 768w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/NXnNIaRTJ/1024x640/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral.jpg 1024w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/NXnNIaRTJ/1280x800/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral.jpg 1280w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/NXnNIaRTJ/1440x900/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral.jpg 1440w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/NXnNIaRTJ/1600x1000/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral.jpg 1600w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/NXnNIaRTJ/2160x1350/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral.jpg 2160w)
See photos of the star-studded funeral service for Natalie Cole.
![Natalie Cole Funeral](https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/vZrEKGxXD/480x355/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-01.jpg 480w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/vZrEKGxXD/640x473/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-01.jpg 640w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/vZrEKGxXD/768x568/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-01.jpg 768w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/vZrEKGxXD/1024x757/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-01.jpg 1024w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/vZrEKGxXD/1280x946/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-01.jpg 1280w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/vZrEKGxXD/1440x1064/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-01.jpg 1440w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/vZrEKGxXD/1600x1182/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-01.jpg 1600w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/vZrEKGxXD/2160x1596/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-01.jpg 2160w)
Lionel Richie attended Cole's funeral at the West Angeles Church of God in Christ on January 11, 2016 .
![Natalie Cole Funeral](https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/4FgxZf3KC/480x333/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-02.jpg 480w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/4FgxZf3KC/640x444/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-02.jpg 640w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/4FgxZf3KC/768x532/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-02.jpg 768w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/4FgxZf3KC/1024x710/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-02.jpg 1024w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/4FgxZf3KC/1280x887/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-02.jpg 1280w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/4FgxZf3KC/1440x998/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-02.jpg 1440w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/4FgxZf3KC/1600x1108/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-02.jpg 1600w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/4FgxZf3KC/2160x1496/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-02.jpg 2160w)
David Foster paid tribute to his friend, who passed away on December 31, 2015.
![Natalie Cole Funeral](https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/J2aX9GYyV/480x375/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-03.jpg 480w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/J2aX9GYyV/640x500/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-03.jpg 640w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/J2aX9GYyV/768x600/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-03.jpg 768w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/J2aX9GYyV/1024x799/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-03.jpg 1024w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/J2aX9GYyV/1280x999/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-03.jpg 1280w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/J2aX9GYyV/1440x1124/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-03.jpg 1440w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/J2aX9GYyV/1600x1248/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-03.jpg 1600w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/J2aX9GYyV/2160x1685/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-03.jpg 2160w)
The Reverend Jesse Jackson attended the "Unforgettable" singer's funeral.
![Natalie Cole Funeral](https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/Ae9lF0B3_/480x330/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-04.jpg 480w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/Ae9lF0B3_/640x440/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-04.jpg 640w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/Ae9lF0B3_/768x528/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-04.jpg 768w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/Ae9lF0B3_/1024x704/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-04.jpg 1024w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/Ae9lF0B3_/1280x880/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-04.jpg 1280w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/Ae9lF0B3_/1440x990/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-04.jpg 1440w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/Ae9lF0B3_/1600x1100/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-04.jpg 1600w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/Ae9lF0B3_/2160x1485/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-04.jpg 2160w)
Cole's family revealed that her death on Dec. 31 was caused by idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension, which ultimately led to heart failure.
![Natalie Cole Funeral](https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/MHvwSgTmk/480x458/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-05.jpg 480w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/MHvwSgTmk/640x611/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-05.jpg 640w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/MHvwSgTmk/768x733/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-05.jpg 768w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/MHvwSgTmk/1024x977/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-05.jpg 1024w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/MHvwSgTmk/1280x1221/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-05.jpg 1280w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/MHvwSgTmk/1440x1374/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-05.jpg 1440w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/MHvwSgTmk/1600x1526/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-05.jpg 1600w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/MHvwSgTmk/2160x2061/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-05.jpg 2160w)
The singer underwent a kidney transplant in 2009, after struggling with problems related to Hepatitis C, a rare lung disease causing shortness of breath, dizziness and sometimes chest pain.
![Natalie Cole Funeral](https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/QVv4Dd7Id/480x374/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-06.jpg 480w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/QVv4Dd7Id/640x499/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-06.jpg 640w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/QVv4Dd7Id/768x599/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-06.jpg 768w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/QVv4Dd7Id/1024x798/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-06.jpg 1024w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/QVv4Dd7Id/1280x997/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-06.jpg 1280w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/QVv4Dd7Id/1440x1122/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-06.jpg 1440w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/QVv4Dd7Id/1600x1246/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-06.jpg 1600w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/QVv4Dd7Id/2160x1683/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-06.jpg 2160w)
Stevie Wonder paid tribute to his long-time friend.
![Natalie Cole Funeral](https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/DI3A6iBa7/480x332/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-07.jpg 480w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/DI3A6iBa7/640x442/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-07.jpg 640w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/DI3A6iBa7/768x530/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-07.jpg 768w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/DI3A6iBa7/1024x707/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-07.jpg 1024w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/DI3A6iBa7/1280x884/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-07.jpg 1280w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/DI3A6iBa7/1440x994/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-07.jpg 1440w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/DI3A6iBa7/1600x1104/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-07.jpg 1600w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/DI3A6iBa7/2160x1491/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-07.jpg 2160w)
Courtney B. Vance and Angela Bassett attended the celebration of her life.
![Natalie Cole Funeral](https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/i5cvCmvdI/480x416/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-08.jpg 480w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/i5cvCmvdI/640x554/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-08.jpg 640w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/i5cvCmvdI/768x665/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-08.jpg 768w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/i5cvCmvdI/1024x886/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-08.jpg 1024w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/i5cvCmvdI/1280x1108/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-08.jpg 1280w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/i5cvCmvdI/1440x1246/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-08.jpg 1440w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/i5cvCmvdI/1600x1384/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-08.jpg 1600w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/i5cvCmvdI/2160x1869/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-08.jpg 2160w)
She "responded well to pulmonary arterial hypertension-specific agents over many years, during which she performed many concerts world-wide, but eventually succumbed to intractable right heart failure, an outcome that unfortunately commonly occurs in this progressive disorder," the statement about her death said.
![Natalie Cole Funeral](https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/JLfQGqpJd/480x351/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-09.jpg 480w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/JLfQGqpJd/640x468/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-09.jpg 640w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/JLfQGqpJd/768x561/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-09.jpg 768w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/JLfQGqpJd/1024x748/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-09.jpg 1024w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/JLfQGqpJd/1280x935/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-09.jpg 1280w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/JLfQGqpJd/1440x1052/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-09.jpg 1440w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/JLfQGqpJd/1600x1168/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-09.jpg 1600w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/JLfQGqpJd/2160x1577/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-09.jpg 2160w)
The singer's longtime music director, Gail Deadlock, expressed shock at her death: "Nobody knew this was going to happen. We mourn the fact that she's gone. But we are celebrating."
![Natalie Cole Funeral](https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/_tcJV4x4b/480x348/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-10.jpg 480w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/_tcJV4x4b/640x464/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-10.jpg 640w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/_tcJV4x4b/768x557/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-10.jpg 768w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/_tcJV4x4b/1024x743/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-10.jpg 1024w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/_tcJV4x4b/1280x928/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-10.jpg 1280w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/_tcJV4x4b/1440x1044/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-10.jpg 1440w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/_tcJV4x4b/1600x1160/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-10.jpg 1600w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/_tcJV4x4b/2160x1566/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-10.jpg 2160w)
Nat King Cole's daughter had a decades-long career with hits including "Inseparable," "This Will Be," and "Our Love."
![Natalie Cole Funeral](https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/Gfrh7F7Cm/480x348/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-11.jpg 480w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/Gfrh7F7Cm/640x464/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-11.jpg 640w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/Gfrh7F7Cm/768x557/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-11.jpg 768w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/Gfrh7F7Cm/1024x743/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-11.jpg 1024w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/Gfrh7F7Cm/1280x928/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-11.jpg 1280w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/Gfrh7F7Cm/1440x1044/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-11.jpg 1440w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/Gfrh7F7Cm/1600x1160/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-11.jpg 1600w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/Gfrh7F7Cm/2160x1566/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-11.jpg 2160w)
Smokey Robinson spoke about his friend at the service.
![Natalie Cole Funeral](https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/lRQGV9eDR/480x336/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-12.jpg 480w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/lRQGV9eDR/640x448/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-12.jpg 640w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/lRQGV9eDR/768x538/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-12.jpg 768w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/lRQGV9eDR/1024x717/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-12.jpg 1024w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/lRQGV9eDR/1280x896/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-12.jpg 1280w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/lRQGV9eDR/1440x1008/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-12.jpg 1440w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/lRQGV9eDR/1600x1120/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-12.jpg 1600w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/lRQGV9eDR/2160x1512/2016/01/natalie-cole-funeral-12.jpg 2160w)
Cole won six Grammys for "Unforgettable" in 1991. Her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was adorned with flowers after her sad passing.