Melissa Rivers Shares How She Honors Late Mother Joan During the Holidays, Reflects on Loss

Joan Rivers’ daughter, Melissa Rivers, still celebrates the holiday season to her late mother’s liking.

In an interview with the Daily Mail published on Friday, December 19, the actress, 57, explained that, despite being Jewish, the former Fashion Police host would put up a tree.

“My mother was always adamant that as a Jew we absolutely still had to have a tree,” Melissa told the outlet. “So of course I still honor her wishes.”

The TV personality — whose dad, Edgar Rosenberg, died in 1987 — further reflected on the loss of the fashion icon, who passed away in September 2014 at the age of 81.

“I still think about my mother a lot. I still cry and I’m always proud to say I’m hers,” Melissa admitted. “I haven’t gotten a ‘message’ exactly, but I hear her voice in my head all the time.”

Additionally, Melissa noted that she still holds onto the “smart” advice the comedian gave her.

“It’s the same advice my mom gave me growing up,” she shared. “Both my parents always said: whatever you’re going through will pass, and that applies to the positive and the negative.”

“If something is hard, remember you’ll get through it. If something is good, appreciate it, because that will pass too,” Melissa added. “And as Winston Churchill said, ‘If you’re going through hell, keep going.'”