Mitch Winehouse yesterday claimed his tragic daughter had beaten her drug addiction – and had, in fact, conquered her dependency three years ago.
The grieving 60-year-old told mourners at her funeral how the 27-year-old singer had given up drugs despite the fact doctors had said it would be ‘impossible’ for her to beat her addiction.
Mr Winehouse, who broke down in tears at the service at Edgwarebury Cemetery in North London, spoke on behalf of his ex-wife Janis and their son Alex and insisted she had made a ‘fantastic recovery'.
The family now face a four-week wait to discover how Miss Winehouse actually died following a post-mortem examination and toxicology tests, but are now making plans to set up a foundation to help struggling drug addicts in their daughter’s name.
And Mr Winehouse, a former black cab driver turned jazz singer, said that his daughter had found love with film director Reg Traviss who had attempted to try to help her get her life back on track.
More... 'Don't kill the superstar': Lady Gaga pleads to fans as she speaks out about Amy Winehouse's tragic death 'Goodnight my angel, sleep tight': Mitch Winehouse's emotional goodbye to daughter Amy as Kelly Osbourne and Mark Ronson join family for her funeral 'Amy saved my life,' friend Alex Foden says singer had £1000-a-day addiction, but spent £130,000 sending HIM to rehab Keep in touch with the latest showbiz gossip by following the Daily Mail's Showbiz Twitter pagePaying tribute to the multi-millionaire singer, he insisted she had given up drugs for his family’s sake, adding: ‘Amy was the greatest daughter, family member and friend you could ever have.
‘I will talk a lot about her fantastic recovery. Recently Amy found love with Reg. He helped her with her problems and Amy was looking forward to their future together. She was the happiest she has been for years.
Miss Winehouse performed for friends and family at an intimate gig at London’s famous 100 Club last month and her father added: ‘We all remember that great night at the 100 Club on Oxford Street, her voice was good, her wit and timing were perfect.
‘She told me that she had 'thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed herself.'
He recalled the last time he saw his daughter – who called him her ‘best friend’ – after she discovered family mementos, saying: ‘She told me she had found a box of old family photos and called me to go over to look. We spoke three times a day at least, she was very excited.’
Speaking about the star’s long-running addiction with drink and drugs, Mr Winehouse said: ‘Three years ago, Amy conquered her drug dependency, the doctors said it was impossible but she really did it. She was trying hard to deal with her drinking and had just completed three weeks of abstinence
Leaving her legacy: Amy's father Mitch has revealed that he hopes to start a foundation in his daughter's name. Seen outside the Golders Green crematorium and Amy's mother Janis also pictured leaving
‘She said, 'Dad I've had enough, I can't stand the look on your and the family's faces anymore.'
She was not depressed. She saw Janis and Reg on Friday and was in good spirits.
‘That night, she was in her room, playing drums and singing. As it was late, her security guard said to keep it quiet and she did.
Hurting: Amy's ex-boyfriend Reg Traviss and her close friend Kelly Osbourne attended the funeral and the crematorium‘He heard her walking around for a while and when he went to check on her in the morning he thought she was asleep. He went back a few hours later, that was when he realised she was not breathing and called for help.
‘But knowing she wasn't depressed, knowing she passed away, knowing she passed away happy, it makes us all feel better.’
Mr Winehouse, who was in New York to perform at some gigs, said: I was with my cousin Michael when I heard and straight away I said I wanted an Amy Winehouse Foundation, something to help the things she loved - children, horses, but also to help those struggling with substance abuse.
‘In this country, if you cannot afford a private rehabilitation clinic, there is a two-year waiting list for help. With the help of Keith Vaz MP, we are trying to change that.’
For Amy: hundreds of fans have gathered outside her North London home to leave tributes, cards, flowers, art work and other items in the shrine to the singer We will miss you: Amy's goddaughter Dionne Bromfield visited the tributes to the singer after the funeralMeanwhile, Miss Winehouse’s 15-year-old goddaughter, budding singer Dionne Bromfield, yesterday turned up at the star’s £2.5million home in Camden Square with some family members from the funeral.
She was joined by Heshima Thompson, one of the star’s backing singers, who said: ‘It was a really nice service.’
Celebrating her life: Friends and family gathered together at Southgate centre for Judaism to celebrate Amy's lifeFond memories: Amy's friends and family including Reg Traviss and Kelly Osbourne gathered together to share stories about the singer's life
Following the service and the cremation members of Amy's friends and family flocked to Southgate centre for Judaism to celebrate the singer's life.
Guest were seen recalling fond memories they had shared with the singer before her tragic death.
Meanwhile outside her Camden home fans held their own celebrations and were seen drinking, dancing and singer remembering the star.
Remembering the good times: Amy's goddaughter Dionne Bromfield shared a joke with a friend as Amy's family and friends celebrated her life Own tribute: While Amy's family and friends mourned her loss together fans of the singer gathered together outside her London home to drink and dance in celebration of her life
