KANSAS CITY, Mo. >> Hundreds of mourners braved drizzling rain to attend the funeral for fashion designer Kate Spade in her hometown of Kansas City, Missouri.

Many of those attending the Thursday church service carried her iconic purses.

Her family released a statement shortly before the funeral began, saying her father had died the night before. The statement said 89-year-old Earl Brosnahan Jr. had been in failing health and was “heartbroken” after his daughter’s suicide.

The 55-year-old mother had a 13-year-old daughter. She was found dead in her New York City home on June 5. Her husband says she’d had depression and anxiety for years, and that she’d been seeing a doctor.

A high school classmate said Thursday that Spade was “incredibly kind” and had a memorable laugh.

Spade was working as an accessories editor at Mademoiselle magazine when she launched her company with husband Andy Spade in 1993.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or a Kansas City animal shelter.