Elizabeth Taylor was laid to rest during a private funeral ceremony at Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale, Calif., on Thursday. The show-business legend passed away of congestive heart failure on Wednesday.
According to Taylor's publicist, the multi-denominational service began slightly after the scheduled 2 p.m. start time at Taylor's own request. The actress left instructions that the ceremony start at least 15 minutes later than announced because, as the rep noted, "She even wanted to be late to her own funeral."
Though the hour-long service's guests — numbering approximately 40 –primarily consisted of Taylor's family members, close friend Colin Farrell was on hand to recite the Gerard Manley Hopkins poem "The Leaden Echo and the Golden Echo." Farrell's reading was immediately followed by other selections read by Taylor's son Michael Wilding, her grandson Tarquin Wilding, and her daughter Lisa Burton Tivey.
Taylor's grandson, Rhys Tivey, performed a solo trumpet rendition of "Amazing Grace."
The actress' closed casket was draped with gardenias, violets and lily of the valley.
The service was performed by Rabbi Jerry Cutler, who also officiated the funerals of Milton Berle, Shelly Winters, Walter Matthau, Red Buttons and Jan Murray, TMZ reports. (Taylor, who was raised a Christian Scientist, converted to Judaism in 1959, at the age of 27.)
Taylor was interred in Forest Lawn's Great Mausoleum, which is also where her close friend, Michael Jackson, is entombed. According to Taylor's rep, the deceased actress is "sheltered beneath a soaring marble Michelangelo angel."
People magazine reports that a public service will be held for Taylor at a later date. On Friday at 8 p.m., Broadway theaters will dim their marquee lights in honor of the actress.
