Elizabeth Taylor mourned by family and fans

This post has been updated. Please see the note below for details.

Elizabeth Taylor was laid to rest Thursday at Forest Lawn in Glendale, with a private service conducted inside the Great Mausoleum where she was to be interred, L.A. Now reports.

Security had been requested for the three to four dozen family members and friends expected to attend the funeral, Glendale police said. Shortly after 2 p.m., five limousines scooted past the media pack that surrounded the memorial park's entrance. They left shortly before 4 p.m. without making a public statement.

Family members planned to gather again Thursday night for a private service memorializing the legendary actress, who died at 79 of congestive heart failure.

Fans had been placing flowers at Taylor's star, near Hollywood Boulevard and Ivar Avenue on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, since word of her 1:28 a.m. death Wednesday began to spread. A candlelit shrine was set up by staff in the VIP room at the West Hollywood bar the Abbey, where Taylor had been known to hang out, according to TMZ. A special "Blue Velvet Martini" was being sold in Taylor's memory all weekend, with proceeds going to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. At the Newseum in Washington, D.C., a display of front pages of myriad newspapers marked Taylor's death. 

The speedy funeral service and interment — Taylor died at 1:28 a.m. Wednesday — is in line with Jewish tradition; she'd converted to Judaism in the 1950s, before she married Eddie Fisher.

The actress' good friend Michael Jackson, who died in 2009, is interred in a different wing of the Great Mausoleum. See more pictures below.

Updated, 10:40 a.m. March 25: This post originally said Taylor converted to Judaism "when" she married Fisher; that has been changed to "before" for clarity. She converted in March 1959, and they were married in May. Time magazine said at the time that the actress had considered converting from Christian Science to Judaism during her marriage to Mike Todd but didn't begin studying until after his death in a plane crash in early 1958.

For the record, 3:32 p.m. March 25: This post originally referred to the Great Mausoleum as the Grand Mausoleum. Thanks to commenter @JBohm for flagging the gaffe.

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Photos: Elizabeth Taylor's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, top, is covered with flowers. Limousines carry mourners away from Forest Lawn in Glendale on Thursday after a service at the Great Mausoleum, where the actress was interred. Credits: Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times, top; Mario Anzuoni / Reuters, above right.

Photo: Fans photograph a memorial to Elizabeth Taylor in Hollywood on Thursday. Credit: Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times

Photo: Flowers are placed Thursday by Elizabeth Taylor's signature, hands and footprints outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Credit: Mike Nelson / EPA

Photo: A bicyclist stops in front of the Newseum in Washington, D.C., to examine the March 24 front pages with  Elizabeth Taylor's obituary. Credit: Hyungwon Kang / Reuters

Photo: The memorial at Taylor's star grew Thursday. Credit: Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times

Photo: Taylor's star on Wednesday, the day she died. Credit: Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[angela Lontos]

There are no more "STARS" Elizabeth was the last, now there are only actors and performers......

[free2drm]

I am a Christian. I am also an HIV positive man & living with it. I thank God above that he sent Elizabeth Taylor to this world. Like anyone, she had her problems. However, because of her efforts I am alive today. She saved my life before I ever had HIV and I thank her today. If it wasn't for her there may have never been funds to pay Doctors to create the life-saving medtion I take daily. I never had the pleasure of meeting her but I love her for what she did for me, along with God. And I know that God above looks down on WBC and his wrath will come to them. They are not Christians at all. They preach hate. And because of their failed attempt to inflict hurt on her family and loved ones, I am sending a nice check to her AIDS foundation today.

[BG]

Bless you, free2drm. May everyone like you who was so greatly benefited by her generosity speak up and call all to remember what it's like to truly "live out loud" and be in the service of others, especially those who need it the most. Peace and a long life to you.

[Prasad]

We cant forget her in our lifetime

[Rob Fisher]

Elizabeth Taylor.You sparkled and shined.You will be remembered all time.
We the people shall never forget that kind smile.Rest in peace.

From Rob Fisher.A ENGLISH FAN.

[Lisa]

@ free2drm -- Do you realize that just one piece out out of her massive jewerly collection would have paid your doctr bills and medications for a whole year? Yeah, she cared about your suffering *that* much!

[marco]

The writer got it wrong. Elizabeth converted to Judaism when she married Mike Todd.

[Susan Glaser]

Rest in Peace Elizabeth :)

[cdz from the ministry]

@marco -- Christie D'Zurilla here from MOG. In fact she didn't convert until a year after Todd's death. I've added more information to the post for those who are interested.

//cdz

[Mark Ira Kaufman]

The cross on Elizabeth Talyor's star is out of place because Taylor converted to Judaism in 1959.

Furthermore, she did not do so because of her marriage to producer Michael Todd, who was Jewish. She coverted to Judaism a nearly year after Todd's death or even because of her marriage to Eddie Fisher, who, like Todd, was Jewish

Although she did convert shortly before her marriage to singer Eddie Fisher, Carrie Fisher, noted in her book "Wishful Drinking,” that proximity to Eddie Fisher would hardly rate as incitement to spiritual commitment.

Taylor was so commited to the Jewish people than she offered herself as a hostage for the Air France hijack victims being held captive by terrorists at Entebbe, Uganda, before Israelis rescued them. That offer, made personally to Israeli Ambassador Simcha Dinitz, was graciously declined, but Dinitz told Taylor, “The Jewish people will always remember it.”

[Theresa Kowall]

These people who post derogatory comments about the deceased have no compassion towards others and are very cynical people. Poor them!
May you rest in peace now Elizabeth and no longer suffer in pain which you tolerated with grace all those years.
Theresa, Ladysmith, B.C. Canada

[cdz from the ministry]

@Theresa Kowall and others who agreed with her sentiment -- Christie D'Zurilla here from MOG. Your comments have been noted.

//cdz

[Cathy]

May God rest her. Never met or spoke with her personally but the outpouring of love from those who worked with and knew her throughout her life speaks to the sort of woman she was. She was given much and tried to give back a great deal too. For the wonderful memories throughout my life, where I was and with whom when I enjoyed the many films of her career, I thank her. And to her family who lost more than 'arguably' the most beautiful looking actress in the world, my heart is broken for you. You're all in our prayers and have our gratitude for sharing her with us all these years.

[Stephen J. Smith]

One of the few women I have known of in my lifetime that sparkled more then her diamonds. She was a gift.

[Robert]

In a world that often over hypes...she was the real deal...a true super star…an enormously talented actress…a courageous humanitarian…and a great beauty with an inner radiance that made her simply breathtaking…

[Brittney Cavallari]

I didn't even hear about her death!