EFN

Television star and international icon Farrah Fawcett lost her three year fight with anal cancer on Thursday June 25, 2009 at the age of 62. A private funeral Mass will be held this afternoon for actress The funeral is being held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

The Cathedral will house invited guests and family only for the private ceremony. As of noon PST, it is unclear if local broadcast news will carry coverage (from a distance) of the event. Thousands of fans are expected to flock to the Cathedral’s area.

Fawcett’s longtime partener Ryan O’Neal was by her side when she died, along with close friend Alana Stewart.

“Although this is an extremely difficult time for her family and friends, we take comfort in the beautiful times that we shared with Farrah over the years and the knowledge that her life brought joy to so many people around the world,” O’Neal said.

O’Neal and Fawcett’s son Redmond O’Neal, who is currently in prison for drug-related charges, was unable to be with his mother when she passed. The embattled 24-year-old has had a long history of drug addiction and was jailed for violating probation. Presently he is undergoing an inmate treatment program to kick his drug habit.Redmond will be temporarily freed from jail to attend his mother’s funeral.

Farrah Fawcett was among seven celebrities who passed away this past week, among them were Michael Jackson, Ed McMahon and infomercial pitchman Billy Mays.