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Natalie Cole remembered with mix of music and laughter

FILE- In a Wednesday, June 26, 2013 file photo, Grammy winning singer-songwriter Natalie Cole poses for a portrait in promotion of her new album "Natalie Cole en Espanol," in New York. Cole's life is celebrated during a funeral on Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, for the late R&B singer, who died on New Year's Eve at age 65. Family and friends gather to bid farewell to the daughter of crooner Nat King Cole who established her Grammy Award-winning career before intertwining her father's musical legacy with her own in their hit "Unforgettable." (Photo by Victoria Will/Invision/AP, File)
FILE- In a Wednesday, June 26, 2013 file photo, Grammy winning singer-songwriter Natalie Cole poses for a portrait in promotion of her new album "Natalie Cole en Espanol," in New York. Cole's life is celebrated during a funeral on Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, for the late R&B singer, who died on New Year's Eve at age 65. Family and friends gather to bid farewell to the daughter of crooner Nat King Cole who established her Grammy Award-winning career before intertwining her father's musical legacy with her own in their hit "Unforgettable." (Photo by Victoria Will/Invision/AP, File) FILE- In a Wednesday, June 26, 2013 file photo, Grammy winning singer-songwriter Natalie Cole poses for a portrait in promotion of her new album "Natalie Cole en Espanol," in New York. Cole's life is celebrated during a funeral on Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, for the late R&B singer, who died on New Year's Eve at age 65. Family and friends gather to bid farewell to the daughter of crooner Nat King Cole who established her Grammy Award-winning career before intertwining her father's musical legacy with her own in their hit "Unforgettable." (Photo by Victoria Will/Invision/AP, File)

By Associated Press 1 min read

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Natalie Cole was remembered as a loyal friend, “the best and bossiest big sister,” and a worthy successor to her famous father’s legacy in a joyous and music-filled funeral highlighting her Baptist faith.

The two-hour, 50-minute service Monday at West Angeles Church of God in Christ was filled with affection for the daughter of crooner Nat King Cole who carved out her own Grammy Award-winning legacy during a 40-year career. Known for such hits as “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” and “Our Love,” she died New Year’s Eve at age 65 of pulmonary arterial hypertension, which led to heart failure.

Among the several hundred mourners were singers Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder, along with Cole’s frequent producer David Foster, actress Angela Bassett and the Rev. Jesse Jackson.