Friends And Family Say Tearful Goodbye To Brittany Murphy At Funeral
Dec. 24 2009, Published 4:52 a.m. ET
Hollywood actress Brittany Murphy was laid to rest Thursday with a small, private gathering of close friends and family recalling her acts of generosity and the joy she brought into their lives.
As RadarOnline.com exclusively reported the service was held at the Church of the Hills at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Mourners gathered outside the church from 2.45 pm onward, many visibly displaying their pain. One woman was seen crying onto the shoulder of actor, and close Brittany friend, Eric Balfour.
It was a day of heartbreak and tears as mourners still struggled with the shock of the sudden passing of the 32-year-old, who collapsed at home last Sunday and was pronounced dead hours later at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Approximately 25 mourners attended the private service and burial. The service was co-denominational, with a rabbi and a pastor present.
Brittany's close friends and family celebrated a life that, as one person said, "brought sunshine" into their lives and "made them fly".
Starting with the Chet Atkins song My Funny Valentine and ending with Brittany's own rendition of Charlie Chaplin's Smile the service highlighted personal moments of those attending as well as the career of the beautiful actress.
Her husband Simon Monjack remembered how Brittany's favorite phrase was "thank you" and said, "She was always grateful for everything. She'd always want you to celebrate your life"
Another speaker recalled how Brittany once made a young male cancer victim's wish come true by granting him a dinner date. When the young boy said his friends wouldn't believe him she called the friends on his cell phone to prove it.
‘Amazing Grace’ was sung and the traditional Jewish mourning prayer of Kaddish was recited.
After the service the burial took place in the Bright Eternity section of the memorial park. It began at 5:30 pm.
The pall bearers included Eric Balfour and his sister Tori.
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On the back of Brittany's memory folder were some of her favorite quotes, including words from Janis Joplin, the story The Little Prince, the poet Wordsworth and Charlie Chaplin.
The family announced that a bigger memorial would be held next year.
An official cause of death is still pending the result of toxicology and other tests.
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Brittany's husband Simon Monjack spoke to RadarOnline.com on Wednesday and said he hadn't slept since Sunday. Sounding dazed and devastated, Monjack said he appreciated the good wishes from everyone but he is clearly still struggling to understand how his young wife was taken from the world so suddenly.