Farrah Fawcett's private funeral

June 30, 11:52 PMActing ExaminerDeborah Smith Ford

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James Fawcett, Farrah's daddy, holding Farrah's program     (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

In Los Angeles, on Tuesday, June 30, 2009, actor Ryan O'Neal led friends and family in a private funeral service for actress Farrah Fawcett.  Farrah died last week at age 62 after a long battle with cancer, and she fought the odds.

Farrah was not the only celebrity who fought such odds, Ed McMahon and Michael Jackson were two of the seven who passed away last week.  As far as anyone knows, Farrah was the only one who suffered for over two years, fighting cancer all the way!

Ryan O'Neal, the long-time companion of the "Charlie's Angels" star, was one of the pall-bearers, and he gave a reading at the service.  The service was held at the Los Angeles Roman Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

Redmond O'Neal, the 24-year-old son of Ryan's and Farrah's was out of jail, temporarily, so he could attend his mother's funeral.  He is held in jail for possession of drugs. Redmond and Ryan gave readings from the Bible.

Others in attendance were Farrah's father James Fawcett, Kate Jackson, Cheryl Ladd and rocker Rod Stewart's ex-wife Alana Stewart, Farrah's cancer doctor, Dr. Lawrence Piro, among other friends.

Farrah's coffin was taken into the church to the live music of "Amazing Grace" and the love song "Always."  (this was according to the program)

Outside the church could be seen fans who watched as Fawcett's casket was taken inside.  The casket was covered with bright yellow flowers.  Pertaining to Farrah's golden curls and hair style, fan, Karla Dishon, said to Reuters (media):

All the girls did -- wavy, pretty, surfer, California girl hair.  She is an icon and she is a very beautiful woman, and I think it's too bad that we lost her so young."  

After the ceremony, mourners said they overheard O'Neal as he tapped on the hearse's back door and said:

So long, babe."

Note: In slideshow is Farrah's funeral program that contains the following and a description of it.  ~ The back cover is a shot of the back of Farrah as she peeps through a tall wooden door. "At That Hour," a poem by James Joyce is on the inside of the cover and the Order of Service listed Redmond O'Neal doing the first reading from the Bible, Lamentations 3:17-26.

Ryan O'Neal doing the second reading from Wisdom 3:1-9. "To Where You Are," a song written by Richard Marx and Linda Thomspon was played as well as "The Prayer," written by Carole Bayer Sager and David Foster.  The Reverend Alexander Salazar read the Prayer of Commendation at the end of the service. ~

Credits: Laura Isensee with Reuters & 'after the ceremony' - AP