Kate Spade's heartbroken father, 89, dies night before hundreds gather for fashion designer's funeral

Kate Spade’s heartbroken father died a day before hundreds of mourners gathered for the fashion designer’s funeral.

Earl Brosnahan Jr, 89, died at his home, with his family saying he had been in failing health and was "heartbroken" after his beloved daughter's suicide.

His family released a statement shortly before Spade’s funeral began on Thursday, saying her father had died the night before at his home in Missouri.

Hundreds of people attended the funeral, including her husband and business partner Andy Spade, who earlier revealed his wife had been battling depression before her death on June 5.

A funeral official followed the family carrying a large white urn as the congregation sang "The First Noel", a nod to Kate Spade's birthday, on Christmas Eve, and her middle name, Noel.

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

She went on to win multiple awards from the Council of Fashion Designers of America, and was named a "giant of design" by House Beautiful magazine.

She walked away from her company in 2007, a year after it was acquired from the Neiman Marcus Group for 125 million dollars by the company then known as Liz Claiborne Inc.

Coach, now known as Tapestry, bought the Kate Spade brand last year for 2.4 billion dollars.

Kate and Andy Spade recently had started a new handbag company, Frances Valentine.

Andy Spade said he and his wife had been living separately in the 10 months before her death but saw each other or spoke every day.

He said they were not legally separated and never discussed divorce.

On Wednesday, Kate Spade New York announced plans to donate one million dollars to support suicide prevention and mental health awareness causes in tribute to the company's late founder.