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Stephen Colbert, Christiane Amanpour Remember Tim Russert

Alissa R — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 08:25:30 -0400

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The late political journalist was honored at Monday's Peabody Awards

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Political journalist Tim Russert — who died Friday of an apparent heart attack — was remembered at Monday's Peabody Awards.

Comedy Central funnyman Steve Colbert recalled when Russert had him on Meet the Press when he announced his tongue-in-cheek presidential bid last year.

“Not everybody gets the jokes that we do and not everybody enjoys it, and that’s fine,” Colbert told the audience. “But one particular person did get the jokes that we did, and I’m particularly grateful for that today."

Even though Russert told Colbert he'd “gotten a lot of heat” for having him on the show ... he treated me with the dignity I deserved.”

(“Guys, it’s comedy. Lighten up," Colbert remembered Russert telling critics.)

CNN's Christiane Amanpour said the best way to honor Russert was "to do something every day in our life and in our work that we’re proud of."

60 Minutes' Lesley Stahl filled in as host of the awards (honoring excellence in radio and television broadcasting) after NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams dropped out to be with Russert's family.

Even though she was a competitor, she said Russert would call her to congratulate her when he thought she’d done a good interview on CBS’s Face the Nation.

Said Stahl, "It’s fitting that we’re all in one big room together today."

A wake for Russert will be held on Tuesday at his son Luke's alma mater, St. Albans School in Washington, D.C.

A private funeral and burial will be held Wednesday, along with a private memorial service to be broadcast live on MSNBC from the Kennedy Center at 4 p.m. ET.

See Us' photo tribute to stars who have gone too soon.

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Singer Corinne Bailey Rae Attends Husband's Funeral

Alissa R — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:37:00 -0400

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"She was trying to be brave" at the service today in England, says a source

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British singer Corinne Bailey Rae paid respects to her late husband, saxophonist Jason Rae, at a funeral today in Leeds, England.

More than 100 mourners — including Amy Winehouse producer Mark Ronson — attended the 90-minute service at St. George's Church.

A hearse with Rae's name spelled out in white flowers was parked outside the church.

Wearing a simple black shift dress, a solemn-looking Rae, 29, was among the last to leave. She was taken away in car to attend the wake, held at the Wardrobe Bar, where the pair first met.

"She kept her head down because she knew there were lots of people watching," a witness tells Us. "I think she was trying to be brave, but just her appearance gave an indication of how she must be feeling. She's definitely lost a lot of weight."

Rae's body was found in his Leeds apartment on March 22. Police believe he died of a drug overdose
. They are awaiting toxicology reports.

"I could die tomorrow and think I've lived my life," Rae — who wed the Grammy-winning singer in 2001 — told the Mail just 18 months ago. "The lifestyle is part and parcel of being a musician. It makes you feel separate from the rest of the world. There's more angst, torture and edge to my life."

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Corinne Bailey Rae at the funeral of her late husband Jason Rae.

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Kanye West Attends Mother's Funeral in Oklahoma City

Alissa R — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:14:36 -0500

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Beyonce and Jay-Z pay their respects to the late Donda West Tuesday

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Kanye West attended his mother's funeral at the True Vine Ministry church in Oklahoma City early Tuesday.

Beyonce and Jay-Z attended. John Legend and Anita Baker performed, Access Hollywood reports.

A white hearse, carrying the body of Donda West arrived, and her champagne-colored coffin was carried inside, according to Access. Flowers poured inside the church, which can accommodate up to 2,500 people.

The rapper broke down while talking about his mother, saying he wanted her to not "rest in peace, but rest in paradise," Entertainment Tonight reports.

After the service, two horse drawn carriages transported her body to the cemetery.

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Kanye West at the 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, CA on September 16, 2007.

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Funeral Set for Kanye West's Mom

Megan Lynn — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 17:51:35 -0500

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Donda West will be laid to rest Tuesday

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The family of rapper Kanye West's mother Donda has now made plans to hold a funeral next Tuesday in her native Oklahoma City.

KOCO Channel 5 in Oklahoma City reports that a funeral for West will be held at the city's Howard-Harris Funeral Home.

West died of complications from tummy-tuck and breast reduction procedures on November 10 in Los Angeles at the age of 58.

Results from an autopsy conducted by the Los Angeles County coroner's office on Tuesday will not be available for another 6 to 8 weeks, pending further tests. West's surgeon, Dr. Jan Adams, has been called into question since the tragedy, as Adams has had two medical malpractice judgments against him, according to records obtained by Us.

Sources tell Us that Kanye West was in London rehearsing for a tour at the time of his mother's death, and has stayed there in the hopes of grieving privately.

Access Hollywood reports that Chicago State University, where West taught English for 30 years, will also hold a private memorial service on Friday.

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J.Lo Mourns Over Death of Grandmother

Alissa R — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 15:00:01 -0400

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Source: The family members "were extremely close."

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Jennifer Lopez's grandmother, Julia Rodriguez, was laid to rest Wednesday in her Bronx, New York, hometown.

Lopez, 38, was performing with husband Marc Anthony, 39, in L.A. October 20 when Rodriguez passed away.

A source tells Usmagazine.com that Anthony, 39, "canceled a round of interviews" to attend an October 22 memorial service for Rodriguez, a seamstress, who had inspired Lopez to open her Pasadena, California, restaurant, Madre's, in 2002. (Lopez also canceled a concert scheduled for today in San Diego due to the recent Malibu blazes, the source said.)

"Jennifer was extremely close to her grandmother," a source says. "She was very supportive and with Jennifer and Marc a lot in her final days."

The source says Rodriguez was equally excited about Lopez's pregnancy.

"She loved her granddaughter and Marc and would have loved to have been there for the birth," the source adds. "It's very sad."

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Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez arrive at Buddakan for the "Brave" album release party on October 9, 2007 in New York City.

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Daniel Smith Buried Today

Noelle Hancock — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 14:41:59 -0400

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Anna Nicole Smith will bury her son Daniel in the Bahamas today, over a month after his death, Entertainment Tonight reports.

Daniel passed away on September 10 from a lethal combination of methadone, Zoloft and Lexapro, while visiting his mother and newborn baby sister in the hospital.

According to ET, a private memorial service with about 25 guests in attendance will be held Thursday afternoon at the island’s Lake View cemetery. Daniel will reportedly be buried wearing a trucker cap, t-shirt and blue jeans -- items that are said to be his favorite type of clothing.

Sources tell ET that his grieving mother will be wearing a black dress and veil specially made for the occasion by close friend Pol Atteu, the Beverly Hills couture designer who also made her wedding dress in a last-minute request for the commitment ceremony to Howard K. Stern.

Talk to Us: Do you think Daniel should have been laid to rest in the United States?

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