UPDATE: Double Funeral Service Planned for Debbie Reynolds and Daughter Carrie Fisher

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Category: Celebrity News, Interviews, Pictures

Published on Saturday, 31 December 2016 07:35

Written by Janet Walker

A double funeral service scheduled for Thursday, January 5, has been announced for the actress, legend and author Debbie Reynolds and her daughter, Carrie Fisher who passed away within a day of each other this past week.

The Reynolds/Fisher Family has announced the double service will be held Thursday January 5, 2017 and is closed except to invited guests. A grand memorial, which is fitting for the two icons, is in the works with Meryl Streep delivering what has been called the keynote eulogy. 

As the world reacted and responded to the passing of the two tributes, from the known and unknown, the celebrated and the everyday, have revealed the pair shared a place in the public's heart to a depth previously not realized. Through it all, the ups, downs, heartaches, pitfalls the public stayed with them, treasured them and in death mourned them. 

The memorial which has not been finalized will be open to the public although specifics have not been provided. 

According to Ms. Fisher's son, Todd, who was sitting with his mother,Ms. Reynolds, as she passed away, was deeply mourning the passing of her daughter Carrie,  who died of a massive heart attack December 27, and she said, "I miss her so much. I just want to be with Carrie."

It was then, according to Fisher, she closed her eyes and within 30 minutes had "technically" passed away.

Ms. Reynolds, the 1950's screen sweetheart, was at Fisher's home, in the early stages of planning the funeral for her daughter, Debbie, who suffered cardiac arrest on a return transatlantic flight and never regained consciousness, when she began to experience shortness of breath and distress. She was rushed to the hospital.

Debbie Reynolds, Actress, Author, Humanitarian, Legend, Dies One Day After Daughter Carrie Fisher

Fisher, who clarified the family's plans during an interview with ABC's Elizabeth Vargus, said "Plans have not been formalized."

Media reports have varied with information. What is clear is that the two generations of screen legends will share a private, invitation only, funeral. Times, dates, and locations have yet to be announced and more than likely will be known to invited guests only.

The two will be interred together "among friends" at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills overlooking the Film Studios where both were revered and loved. The website for Forest Lawn confirms both will be buried at the Hollywood Hills location.

Icons from Ms. Reynolds star packed Golden Era heyday including Lucille Ball, Steve Allen, Liberace, Jack Webb and Sandra Dee, as well as the ultra-reclusive Bette Davis are also buried at the site.

The two, Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher, grew very close since the birth of Ms. Fisher's daughter, Billie Lourd. The Mother-daughter struggles are well documented in Ms. Fisher's, semi-autobiographical memoir Postcards from the Edge, which was made into a film.

Carrie Fisher, Star Wars Princess Leia, Dies

The two clearly worked through the angst, heartbreak, upsets, challenges, mothers, and daughters often struggle with as each work through the definition of what a mother and daughter should be especially when we miss the mark.

Both agreed in separate interviews and in public statements the hurt, estrangement and hostility had passed years ago.

The two were champions of many causes especially Mental Health awareness.

After entering rehab at 28, for drug abuse, Ms. Fisher was diagnosed with Bi-polar, characterized by high-highs and low-lows, clinically described as having both manic and depressive states, a swing condition, then at the time of Ms. Fisher's diagnosis, not as common or widely talked about, known and treatable as now.

Fisher was one of the first known celebrities, especially of the offspring of Hollywood Golden Era royalty that openly spoke of her mental condition. She conquered the issue without glib dismissive statements or causes. Ms. Reynolds became an advocate as well, and the two pillars demystified the challenges of bi-polar and mental health awareness.

Ms. Reynolds, who was 84 when she died, is survived by her son Todd, and granddaughter, Billie Catherine Lourd.

Ms. Fisher, who died at 60, is survived by her daughter Billie, her only child with Creative Artists Agency Managing Partner Bryan Lourd, and brother Todd, and half-sisters, Joely Fisher and Tricia Leigh Fisher, the daughters of Eddie Fisher, Carrie and Todd's father, and actress Connie Stevens.

Image courtesy of google search.