Los Angeles, June 17: Around 3,000 people filled Los Angeles' Catholic Cathedral yesterday to bid a final and emotional farewell to movie legend Gregory Peck and to pay homage to his life and work. The service followed a quiet family burial of the actor in the crypt of the cathedral. The seat of the largest US Catholic diocese was packed with mourners, church officials said, as celebrities, family members and friends said goodbye to one of the last great stars of Hollywood's golden age, who died last week. In true Hollywood style, the one-hour service ended with a film-clip showing an interview with the actor, who died on Thursday at his Los Angeles home at the age of 87, in which he said he wanted to be remembered as a good husband, father and story teller.
Cardinal Roger Mahony led the memorial service while Peck's "to kill a mockingbird" co-star Brock Peters conducted the eulogy and three of the star's four children -- Anthony, Cecelia and Cary -- all gave readings.
"We come today to show our respect for a great giant of the golden age of filmmaking, we come to offer that respect, to cherish him to thank god for him," Mahony said.
Mahony said peck had been a great man whose life -- both private and professional -- was characterized by the qualities of authenticity, integrity and constancy.

Peck's greatest movie role, that of the right-minded southern lawyer Atticus Finch in 1962's racially-charged "To Kill A Mockingbird" -- for which he won the best actor Oscar -- was a focus of many of the speakers.
Bureau Report