British Novelist Jackie Collins Organised Her Wake Before Death

Novelist Jackie Collins planned her own wake prior to her death to make sure her send-off would be a big party. The bestselling author passed away on Saturday at 77, after a six-year battle with breast cancer, and it has now emerged she was able to put her affairs in order and confirm arrangements for her memorial service.

Jackie Collins’ friend Christopher Biggins has revealed the send-off is to take place in Beverly Hills, California and will feature a lavish bash for all her pals.

He tells British newspaper The Sun, “There’s not going to be a funeral. There’s going to be a cremation and a big party. Jackie organized everything… I don’t know if (Jackie’s sister Joan) will be speaking.”

Collins specified that a share of donations made at the memorial service will be handed to a cancer charity in England called Penny Brohn Cancer Care.

The author’s actress sister Joan called Jackie a “wonderful, brave and… beautiful person” in a statement released after her death, and the Dynasty star has since been remembering her sibling in a series of posts on Twitter.com.

She has shared a childhood picture of Jackie, writing, “Little Jacqueline Jill Collins, a very joyful baby #jackiejcollins (sic),” and she also expressed her grief over her loss, adding, “Desperately sad today but I know Jackie would want me to be strong but it’s hard to lose somebody so wonderful, so incredible& loving.”