FUNERALS/MEMORIALS

Lena Horne funeral in New York City

Pallbearers carry the casket of entertainer and civil rights activist Lena Horne, into Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in New York, Friday, May 14, 2010.

Audra McDonald, Chita Rivera and Dionne Warwick were among the hundreds of mourners bidding a final farewell to legendary actress and singer Lena Horne Friday in her home state of New York.

Also attending the service at St. Ignatius Loyola in Manhattan was her granddaughter, actress Jenny Lumet, writer of the 2008 film “Rachel Getting Married.”

Horne “was so many ideas existing all at the same time in the same space and they were all conflicting and they were all true,” Lumet said. “I’ve tried to sum her up and I can’t sum her up; summing up really means it’s over and I think that she’s not over and that she’s quite infinite.”

 The daughter of Lena Horne, Gail Lumet-Buckley, second right, and grand-daughter Jenny Lumet third right, are surrounded by friends and family

Broadway veteran and “Private Practice” star Audra McDonald stood over the casket and sang “Amazing Grace,” according to the Associated Press. Others attending the funeral included opera star Jessye Norman, Vanessa Williams and Diahann Carroll.

Horne was remembered as a shy girl from Brooklyn who broke through decades of racism to emerge as a world-class entertainer and social leader. She died Sunday at age 92. (EURweb)

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Bruce Demara

Toronto Star

March 16, 2010

Toronto-born teen heartthrob Corey Haim, 38, was laid to rest Tuesday in a private ceremony attended by about 200 relatives and close friends.

The actor, who shot to stardom in the 1980’s with films such as The Lost Boys and Lucas, watched his movie career falter in the aftermath and openly struggled with addiction.

Haim, 38, died last Wednesday at the suburban Los Angeles home he shared with his mother, Judy. An autopsy has yet to confirm the cause of death but a police spokesperson openly speculated it may have been the result of a drug overdose.

Click here to continue reading

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FUNERALS/MEMORIALS

‘Thank you’ for Brittany

(Pacificcoastnews.com/Fame Pictures)

Her final scene: Family and friends gathered at the Church of the Hills yesterday to say goodbye to Brittany Murphy

By LISA BURKS

New York Post

December 25, 2009

FUNERALS/MEMORIALS

Sleeping in Beauty ~ Rest in Peace, Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson’s casket prior to entombment (© Reuters 9/3/2009)

Check out Lisa Burks’ blog for an eyewitness report of Michael Jackson’s funeral:

“Ten weeks after his untimely death, Michael Jackson was finally laid to rest last night at Forest Lawn Glendale in the Great Mausoleum, Holly Terrace, during a much publicized private funeral.”

Click here to continue reading the article from Lisa Burks blog, “Adventures in Graving”

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VALENTINO

The 82nd Annual Rudolph Valentino Memorial Service

By Allan R. Ellenberger

Today the fans of Rudolph Valentino arrived in the heat and humidity to Hollywood Forever Cemetery for the actors 82nd annual memorial service. The Memorial Committee once again surpassed their previous efforts in providing a dignified and entertaining celebration of the life of silent film actor, Rudolph Valentino.

Fans enter the Cathedral Mausoleum (above) to attend the the 82nd Annual Rudolph Valentino Memorial Service.

The foyer of the Cathedral Mausoleum where fans gathered to begin today’s service.

Chanell O Farrill welcomes everyone on behalf of Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Valentino author and emcee, Tracy Ryan Terhune gave the opening remarks and introduced each of today’s speakers. The first speaker for the day, Jeanine Villalobos, the great-granddaughter of Rudy’s brother, Alberto, was delayed by that-infamous Los Angeles traffic, but the show must go on so a Valentino video based on the upcoming photo book by Valentino authority, Donna Hill, was premiered.

 Actor Garrett Brant gave a reading of three selected poems from Valentino’s book of poetry, Daydreams.

The late Bob Mitchell in a photo from last years service.

There was a moving tribute to organist Bob Mitchell as a recording of Mitchell’s organ music played. Mitchell, who played the organ at many former Valentino services, passed away on July 4th and is also interred at Hollywood Forever.

Tracy Terhune presents an award for the late Bob Mitchell to his partner and friend, Vince Morton (above), who also perfomed the music for today’s service.

Jeanine Villalobos (above), the great-granddaughter of Alberto Guglielmi Valentino, spoke about her uncle’s funeral and read from archival letters of Alberto to his wife Ada. Ms Villalobos also commended the memorial committee for conducting the services, both past and present, with respect and decorum.

Craig MacPherson (above) shared his thoughts on the influence of Natacha Rambova in the life of Valentino. The 2009 Valentino Memorial Video showing the relationship of Valentino and Rambova was premiered to the song, “If I Love Again.”

Christopher Riordan (above), manager of Falcon Lair, shared his memories and the current and future of Valentino’s former home. Singer Ian Whitcomb entertained the audience with the songs, “My Buddy” and the perennial, “The Sheik Of Araby.” Valentino Memorial Committee member, Stella Grace, then led the audience in repeating the 23rd Psalm.

The Valentino Memorial Committee: Marvin Page, Stella Grace, Chanell O Farrill and Tracy Ryan Terhune (missing is Jay Boileau).

Celebrating the life of Rudolph Valentino are Michael Francis, Kari Bible, the Lady in Black and Allison Francis.

 Flowers surround the crypt of Rudolph Valentino.

The mysterious Sue Guldin reads a newspaper account of Valentino’s death.

Valentino memorabilia on display provided by Marvin Page.

Valentino authorities and memorial committee members, Stella Grace and Tracy Ryan Terhune (above). Stella, Tracy and the rest of the committee worked hard to produce a service that was respectful and entertaining. They should be congratulated. We look forward to next year.

Photos by Allan R. Ellenberger

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FUNERALS/MEMORIALS

The 47th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe’s death

Today was the 47th anniversary of the death of actress Marilyn Monore. Each year a memorial is held at her grave at Westwood Memorial Park. Here are a few photos of todays memorial courtesy of Frank Keith.

 Marilyn’s crypt (Courtesy of Frank Keith)

 Memorial bench in front of Marilyn’s crypt (Courtesy of Frank Keith)

 Paramount’s A C Lyles with Marilyn fan (Courtesy of Frank Keith)

 Westwood chapel where Marilyn’s services were held (Courtesy of Frank Keith)

Memorial wreath (Courtesy of Frank Keith)

Footage of Marilyn Monroe’s funeral

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FUNERAL/MEMORIAL

Gale Storm memorial service set

A memorial service for actress Gale Storm, star of the 1950s situation comedies “My Little Margie” and “The Gale Storm Show: Oh! Susanna,” will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at South Shores Church, 32712 Crown Valley Parkway, Monarch Beach in Dana Point. Storm died June 27 at age 87.

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FUNERALS/MEMORIALS

Bob Mitchell 

The funeral for organist Bob Mitchell, who died on July 4, 2009, was held yesterday at Christ the King Roman Catholic Church. Interment was at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. The following is from his funeral program:

Bob Mitchell was born in Los Angeles on October 12, 1912. He began piano study at four and pipe organ at the age of ten. He accompanied silent movies beginning in 1924 (age twelve) until 1928 when sound replaced live music. At eighteen, he was the youngest candidate to receive the degree of Fellow of the American Guild of Organists (F.A.G.O). He was a scholarship winner at Eastman School of Music and the New York College of Music and still found time to sing and play on his own radio show in New York City.

Returning to Los Angeles, he founded the Mitchell Choirboys in 1934 – which continued for nearly 70 years. They performed in some one hundred motion pictures, most notably Going My Way, The Bishop’s Wife, and White Christmas. They toured extensively – five times abroad and once around the world, and made thousands of radio and TV appearances.

Bob served overseas in the Navy during World War II, and was pianist/organist for Meredith Willson’s Armed Forces Radio Service Orchestra.

He served as staff pianist/organist at several Los Angeles radio stations – KFI, KHJ, KECA, among others, and on TV with Art Linkletter’s House Party, The Jack LaLanne Show, and even The Mitchell Choirboys Show. Bob and the choir were featured in the Academy-monimated short film Forty Boys and a Song, and he was  honored on Ralph Edwards’ This is Your Life. 

Bob was organist for four years for the Dodgers and Angels at the then new stadium, the only person to ‘play’ for both the National and American leagues at the same time. He was musical director for many religious institutions over his 87 years as a professional musician, and most recently regularly exciting his many fans at the Silent Movie Theatre, Hollywood. Bob passed away peacefully on Saturday afternoon, July 4, 2009.

Bob Mitchell’s crypt at Hollywood Forever Cemetery  at the Sanctuary of Memories, Elevation 8, Crypt C-49 (this is the new section in front of the Abbey of the Psalms, the second corrider to your right as you face the Abbey). Bob’s crypt is the one at the top (third row) center. The flowers are from his service.

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FUNERALS/MEMORIALS

Mary “Maria” Bennett:

The Cat Lady of Hollywood Forever

By Allan R. Ellenberger

Many old-timers who work and visit at Hollywood Forever Cemetery may remember Maria Bennett, the so-called Cat-Lady, who cared for many of the stray cats that made the cemetery their home. This was especially true many years ago before the cemetery was bought and restored by the Cassity family. At the time, the cemetery was going into bankruptcy, and with little or no staff to tend to the graves, the entire property was soon in shambles.

That, of course is another story. However, during this time many volunteers came forward to water the graves, pull weeds and make sure that many of the famous and not-so-famous still had some respect.

The inscription on Maria’s monument

Maria chose to take care of the stray cats that made the cemetery their home. She would come by on a regular basis to make sure the animals had food, water and shelter. She did this for many years. There are still cats living at the cemetery, many of them descendants of those that Maria cared for.

Maria died in 2007 at the age of 72 and was cremated at Hollywood Forever. While her ashes are not interred there, her son recently had a memorial placed there for her. Maria’s monument can be found in Section 2, across the road from Cecil B. De Mille.

Maria’s monument is across the road from Cecil B. DeMille

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FUNERALS/MEMORIALS

Services for theater organist Bob Mitchell

(Cinecon)

Larry Harnisch

The Daily Mirror

Los Angeles Times

Daily Mirror fan Karie Bible of Film Radar reports the death of theater organist Bob Mitchell. Mitchell was a regular feature of the Los Angeles Conservancy’s Last Remaining Seats series. He was quite frail at this year’s event but it was good to see him.

Mitchell’s services are scheduled on Friday at 9:30 a.m. at  Christ the King Catholic Church, 624 N. Rossmore Ave. He will be buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Assn. or Boys Town.

Here’s a field recording I made at Last Remaining Seats a few years ago of Mitchell playing “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.”

Thanks to our friend Jon Weisman of the fabulous Dodger Thoughts blog for reminding us that Mitchell was the first organist at Dodger Stadium.

 Interview with Bob Mitchell (YouTube)

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