By Kevin Sheehan and Patrick Reilly
Beloved CBS meteorologist Elise Finch was laid to rest in an emotional celebration of life ceremony on Tuesday — as her heartbroken husband said he was still trying to wrap his head around her sudden death.
The Channel 2 news weatherwoman, who died suddenly earlier this month aged 51, was lovingly remembered by colleagues as hating the mornings, despite working them for 15 years.
The cause of her death has so far not been made public.
After a four-hour ceremony at Macedonia Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, New York, her husband, Graig Henriques, told The Post, “We’re still trying to understand” Finch’s death.
“She was one of a kind,” he said, with tears drying on his face beneath dark sunglasses. “We had so many plans.”
Finch, whose full name was Elise Dione Finch Henriques, joined WCBS in 2007 as a weekend meteorologist.
She most recently delivered the weather forecast in the mornings, where co-workers joked she should best be avoided before she’d had a couple of cups of coffee.
“A little known fact most viewers and everyone who did not work the early mornings, Elise was not exactly a morning person!” CBS anchor Maurice DuBois reflected during the ceremony to laughs from the audience.
“Despite the friendly person we all got to know around the office and on the air everyday. She needed a little extra time to fully wake up. After all, they did go on the air at 4:30 right?!
“You don’t say hello … she’d give you a glare! And don’t dare ask about the weather!” he continued.
“She did get better as the hours progressed and about an hour in she’s ready to go and happy. She would totally change from grumpy to happy.”
Amira Finch Johnson, Finch’s niece, had to be escorted out by her mother and three other family members after breaking down during the CBS video tribute at the end of the ceremony.
Johnson said she was more than just Finch’s niece — and more like a younger sister. She described her Aunt’s death as, “The stupidest thing! Because her not being here makes no sense.”
Hundreds of people attended the somber ceremony. Although her family had asked for no flowers, the alter disappeared behind a sea of pink arrangements.
Finch is survived by Henriques and their daughter, Grace.
“Truly, every day was a good day when we were with Elise, and we will miss her dearly,” CBS said about her passing.
