Entertainment Music Paula Abdul Was 'By Her Mom's Side' as Mother Lorraine Died at Age 85 Paula Abdul's mother Lorraine died at her California home on Sunday at the age of 85 By Jordan Runtagh Jordan Runtagh Twitter Jordan Runtagh is an Executive Podcast Producer at iHeartRadio, where he hosts a slate of pop culture shows including Too Much Information, Inside the Studio, Off the Record and Rivals: Music's Greatest Feuds. Previously, he served as a Music Editor at PEOPLE and VH1.com. He's written about art and entertainment for more than a decade, regularly contributing to outlets like Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly, and appearing as a guest on radio and television. Over the course of his career, he's profiled the surviving Beatles, Brian Wilson, Aretha Franklin, Roger Waters, David Byrne, Pete Townshend, Debbie Harry, Quincy Jones, Brian May, Jerry Lee Lewis, James Taylor and many more. A graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, he lives in Brooklyn, where he can be found DJing '60s soul records. People Editorial Guidelines Published on January 18, 2018 04:35 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Photo by Ron Galella/WireImage Paula Abdul‘s mother Lorraine died Monday at age 85, PEOPLE confirms. “Lorraine died with her daughters Paula and Wendy by her side,” Abdul’s cousin Tara Riceberg tells PEOPLE. “Paula was able to be by her mom’s side and give her comfort in her final moments.” “Lorraine was a single mom and a very strong and fierce woman. She raised two daughters and both Paula and Wendy are strong females who understand discipline,” Riceberg continued. “Their mom’s influence made them the women they are today.” A private service, led by Rabbi Chaim Mentz, Chabad of Bel Air, was held Wednesday in California. “At the memorial, everyone kept talking about Lorraine’s big smile and her infectious laugh and signature red lipstick,” Riceberg recalls. “It’s funny because Paula has an amazing laugh and it’s something she gets from her mom.” Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage Abdul requested Nat King Cole’s “Sweet Lorraine” be played as they took her mother’s body from the chapel to the car. “She really was Sweet Lorraine — everyone mentioned how she made the most incredible fudge and lemon cake,” Riceberg says. “She had such a warmth and a bright smile. It’s not surprising Paula is the way she is — she has that from her.” In addition to being a familiar face alongside her famous daughter — attending her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 1991 — Lorraine was a talented concert pianist in her own right, growing up in the small town of Minnedosa, Manitoba in Canada. While Abdul, 55, has yet to speak publicly on the loss, she did share a reflective message on Twitter Tuesday. RELATED VIDEO: Paula Abdul—”I’m a Dancer Against Cancer” “This moment from my visit to Israel is one I think of often,” she wrote. “Pausing to watch all the vibrant life going on. EVERY MOMENT of life should be savored & treasured, whether we’re alone or w/ people we love. When can you pause today to appreciate life? xoP #TuesdayThoughts.” Entertainment Tonight was first to report news of Lorraine’s death. Reporting by LIZ McNEIL