Kate Spade’s Dad Dies Before Her Funeral

One day before famed fashion designer Kate Spade was laid to rest, her father Frank passed away.

In a statement, her family said, “We are deeply saddened to announce that Katy's father, Earl F. Brosnahan, Jr. (Frank), passed away last night at age 89. He had been in failing health of late and was heartbroken over the recent death of his beloved daughter. He was at home and surrounded by family at the time of his passing."

The statement was released just a few minutes before the funeral mass for Kate took place at at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Redemptories Church.

Frank recently weighed in on her funeral, telling The Kansas City Star, “I'd like for her to be buried with her mother. They were very close."

Frank was one of the last people to talk to Kate before she took her own life earlier this month. He said, “I don't know what happened. The last I talked with her, the night before last, she was happy planning a trip to California to look at colleges. She doted on her daughter."