Anne Burrell's loved ones have gathered at a private wake on New York City's Upper East Side.

The 55‑year‑old celebrity chef known for Worst Cooks in America and Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, was found "unconscious and unresponsive" in her Brooklyn home on Tuesday (17.06.25) morning, reportedly surrounded by up to 100 pills.

It emerged on Saturday (21.06.25) the wake took place the day before at the Frank E Campbell Funeral Home, and was attended by over 100 guests, including her husband Stuart Claxton, celebrity chefs Scott Conant, Amanda Freitag and Marc Murphy, as well as television personalities Kelly Bensimon and Carson Kressley.

A source told Page Six about the event: "The mood was somber, though friends whispered… that Anne would want them to be smiling and laughing".

It's been reported a New York City Fire Department spokesperson reported the 911 caller believed she had suffered cardiac arrest.

Stuart is though to have found Anne on the shower floor earlier this week, having last seen her alive at about 1 am, with emergency responders pronouncing her dead at the scene.

Despite the location and presence of pills, authorities have not ruled out foul play but say it is "premature to speculate" about their role in her death.

Anne's family released a statement saying: "Anne's light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world… her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal". 

Iron Chef America host Duff Goldman, 50, reflected on his 20‑year friendship with Anne, describing it as "complex" and recalling a recent reunion at a charity gala that "left (his) heart lifted and full of light". 

Anne, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, built a high‑profile career on the Food Network with appearances on Iron Chef America, Chopped, Chef Wanted, and her shows Secrets of a Restaurant Chef and Worst Cooks in America.

Her improvisation performance at The Second City in Brooklyn the night before her death surprised friends who said she was "in great spirits".

Along with her husband Stuart, who she married in October 2021, she is also survived by his 20‑year‑old son Javier, her mother Marlene, sister Jane and brother Ben. 

Investigations by the NYPD and medical examiner's office continue, with toxicology results still pending as the cause of death remains undetermined.