'Vol 7, 91[,o. 51 'Tuesday, May 26, 1998 Section of 'Ifie Safem 91[,ews 01 friends id farewell to-one of their own By Sinatra nightclub shows, Lois Firestone playing 40 to 55 cities a year HE SWEET FRAGRANCE over 13 years. Others were T from hundreds of gard more familiar - singer Steve enias permeated the Good Lawrence, comedian Don Shepherd Church in Beverly Rickles and the son, Frank Jr. Hills on May 20 for the To enter the church the 400 funeral of Frank Sinatra who invited mourners displayed a died five days earlier. One ticket inscribed in purple, thousand of his favorite "Francis Albert Sinatra flower carpeted the singer's Funeral Mass." Threading casket; the family's floral through the crowd were order for the gardenias, white Nancy Reagan, Gregory Peck, roses and orchids totalled Robert Wagner, Eydie Gorme, $50,000. Milton Berle, Joey Bishop, Outside, the fans waited Shirley Jones, Paul Anka, Bob patiently, lined deep on Newhart, Ben Vereen. sidewalks to bid farewell, Anthony Quinn, Red while from the rooftops the Buttons, third wife Mia press peered down, looking Farrow, Sophia Loren, Tom This photo of Frank Sinatra for a glimpse of the family Selleck, Tim Conway, with dog was on the card or a celebrity. Diahann Carroll, Angie his In the sky above, a Dickinson, Wayne Newton, given out at the vigil service skywriter outlined a heart Dionne Warwick, Marlo May 19. The Prayer of St. A skywriter's handiwork, a heart, is seen in the sky above the with the initials F.S. inscribed Thomas and Phil Donahue. Francis was on the reverse Good Shepherd Church in Beverly Hills May 20 before Frank inside. As they watched the The infamous Rat Pack of side. Sinatra's funeral. sky heart fade, florists carried years earlier was absent, in the last of the flowers, this except for comedian Joey -one a heart of red roses. Bishop. Gone were Dean The friends came, the stage Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and screen royalty from the Peter Lawford and Dean past, many of them showing Martin. In his eulogy, Kirk signs of age. They walked Douglas asked the mourners carefully up the steps of the to celebrate "the man with church, clutching the railing the God-given talent" who with shaky hands. The family had joined his departed Rat had explained earlier they'd - Pack pals. "Boy, heaven will held the funeral in Beverly never be the same," Douglas Hills instead of Palm Springs said to wild applause. for just that reason: Some The sounds of Sinatra's friends were too weak to voice singing "Put Your travel far. Dreams A way for Another The chief pallbearer was Day" brought tears. "He sang little known to the waiting for the world for 60 years," Nancy Reagan following the crowd. Tom Dreesen was an Frank Jr. said. Today and last Composer-singer Paul Anka funeral services. Ronald old friend; a comic who night, everyone sang for him An aging Joey Bishop, one of ' wrote "My Way," a famous Reagan and Sinatra were old friends. ' warmed up audiences before See Sinatra, page 4 the Rat Pack. Sinatra ballad.
Red Buttons (left) and The Rat Pack during their heyday in January 1961 (from left) Peter Lawford, Frank Sinatra, Dean Actress Debbie Reynolds was Anthony Quinn arrive for the Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Joey Bishop. one of the mourners. funeral. ~~~~~~~~~~ ~.J),~~_,~,~~~------• .....------_ ;-. met the Italian-born star but Av Sinatra ~~:.. clc~imed a lasting love, . (.-:J• ... (-;f.~ _X inatra. I~'~····''"1~.. anyway, wa1·1ed and tore their "''fJ·:i Continued from page 1 ~7-;r-· hair in a public ·0)., /() demonstration the likes of ·: ------' which Hollywood had never and he listened." Looking at before seen. For Marilyn Monroe's the casket, he said, "So long, funeral in 1962, scaffolding Buddy, and take care of yourself." was erected to hold the crowds. However, a private As the tributes continued service for the 36-year-old in the mass presided over by Norma Jean Baker was Cardinal Roger Mahoney of arranged later by ex-husband the Los Angeles Diocese, Joe DiMaggio in Westwood eulogist Gregqry Peck called Cemetery. Sinatra a "reckless rogue, a At Elvis Presley's funeral in sentimental fellow. His Rudolph Valentino, the 1977, held far from screen heartthrob who died in touching poem to the widow, Hollywood, thousands looked Barbara, ended with '"Twas through the gates of his 1926. heaven here with you." Memphis home, Graceland. Earlier, Mahoney led a The people who loved procession of altar servers them vicariously never forget into the old stone church, them. For years, on the Curiosity seekers gather in Hollywood Memorial Park dosing the huge front doors anniversary of Valentino's Cemetery on Nov. 21, 1958 to wail: for the arrival of entertainers to the people outside. death, an anonymous attending funeral services for actor Tyrone Power. Sinatra's run-ins with the someone placed flowers on media were well-known, so his grave. The same is true barring "the bums" was at Graceland; every year disappointing to the hopeful hundreds of thousands tour press but not too surprising. Presley's home and grounds, . Celebrities had learned how pausing to place a tribute disruptive fans - and the and a few quiet moments media - c-ould be years over the graves of Presley earlier.· When Tyrone Power's and his parents. funeral was held 40 years Frank Sinatra was buried earlier, in the same Good near his Palm Springs home, Shepherd Church, the on a plot in the Desert_ resulting bedlam was likened Memorial Park beside his to a popular movie of the mother and father, Natalie time, "The Day of the "Dolly" and Anthony Martin Locusts." Fans stormed the Sinatra and his best friend, Tony Curtis church, snatching flowers, Jilly Rizzo. It's likely fans hymnals and church will make a pilgrimage to accouterments for a memento. visit the grave of the man With the Powers fiasco, the they call the most influential sagging security business was singer and performer of all revitalized. Stars hired time. bodyguards for protection and guarding homes became Jack Lemmon. Jack Nicholson a huge business. The trend toward private funeral services started after that, too. Arbaugh- i:eorce' The deaths of famous entertainers have always· eeriiM2fl drawn hordes of adoring GJr Funeral followers. When Rudolph Home Valentino passed away at the RAYJ.GREENISEN 332-4401 young age of 31 in 1926, OWNER adori:r:_i.g women who'd never PERSONAL RECORDS & PLANNING BOOK Because your last wishes are so important -~ This FREE Sophia Loren Record Milton Bede Kirk Douglas Book Allows Now taking reservations for You To: MAY 25: Adelle Schultz is the Fall and Winter Celebrations •Fill In Vital Information owner of Bo's Nesting Place in • Pre-Plan Your Funeral Columbiana. Shangri-La • Select The Funeral You Wish MAY 26: Scott Marhefka was named valedictorian at United • Relieve Your Family Of Worry Local High School. Citizens Banquet Center ------Do This For The Ones You Lo·ve MAY 27: Alfred L. Fitch was Maximum Seating for 500 Please send us: 0 The Family Personal honored by the Ohio State Bar Perfectfor Wedding & Anniversaries Association for 50 years in the Banking. Record Book. profession. O Information on Inflation-Proof MAY 28: Zelma Clark was named Om Jones Hall· Funeral Pre-Plan. "Women in Business Advocate." Seating For 50 People 0 Information about funeral MAY 29: The 1988 Class of South i 93 S. Lincoln Family banquets and receptions, costs, procedures. Range has two valedictorians, bachelor and bachelorette parties. Name, ______Mike Nuhfer and Michele Chafee. 7203 CALLA RD. Address______MAY 30: Eloise Traina was 2525 S.E. Blvd. Kitchen Facilities Available City ______installed as president of the Salem State,_____ ~ip, ____ Business and Professional 337-8776 Women's Club. 533-5594 Phone