Thousands Gather for Goody's Funeral
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WENN.com
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Saturday, April 04, 2009
Thousands of fans gathered on Saturday to pay their respects to late reality TV star Jade Goody as her funeral procession passed through the streets of London.
The cortege travelled through areas where Goody spent parts of her life and was flanked by mourners and well-wishers.
Crowds lining the route tossed flowers at the hearse and applauded, before funeral director Barry Albin-Dyer released a single white dove -- which was greeted with cheers from onlookers.
The procession then left London for a burial service in St. John's Church in Buckhurst Hill, Essex -- the home town of Goody's widower Jack Tweed.
Tweed was allowed to attend the service after his sentencing hearing for assaulting a taxi driver was postponed until April 16. Goody's two sons, Bobby, 5, and Freddie, 4, with ex-boyfriend Jeff Brazier, were not in attendance, at the star's request.
Members of the public, who gathered outside the church, were able to watch via screens and speakers erected outside the building.
The service was followed by a private funeral at an unconfirmed location.
Goody's publicist Max Clifford paid tribute to the star, insisting the procession went just as Goody had planned.
He says, "I think Jade would want people to be laughing and crying and I'm sure they will be. People have been to the church and signed the book of remembrance, and there's been letters and cards from all over the world as well as floral tributes."
Goody lost her battle with cervical cancer on March 22, aged 27. She carved out a lucrative career through magazine and book deals, and by starring in a string of reality shows.
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