by Rachel Ogbu
The funeral service of Sopranos actor, James Gandolfini, 51 took place at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in New York.
According to reports, Gandolfini’s widow Deborah Lin who just gave birth eight months ago, gave a heart-wrenching eulogy for her ‘honest, kind and loving’ husband in a New York cathedral today, as throngs of stars turned out to say goodbye to the beloved actor.
‘Jim, one of the things I loved the most was watching you be the father that you were to Michael and Lily,’ she said. ‘Thank you for the memories of the beautiful life we shared together. I love you Jim and I always will. Rest in Peace.’
Also Gandolfini’s son from a previous relationship was photographed wiping away tears and clung to his mother, Marcy Wudarski, after he walked his father’s coffin to an awaiting hearse after the service.
Michael Gandolfini was on holiday with his father last week when he tragically found him dying in an Italian hotel room.
Comforted: James Gandolfini’s son, Michael, is comforted by his mother Marcy Wudarski, left, and other family members
Son: James Gandolfini son, Michael, left, walks his father’s coffin out of the church with other pallbearers
Shaken: James Gandolfini’s wife, Deborah Lin, has to be held by family members at the funeral of her beloved husband
Tears: Gandolfini’s wife, Deborah Lin, son, Michael and ex wife Marcy Wudarski as well as his sister are seen walking the coffin to the hearse
Procession: James Gandolfini’s family is seen walking behind the coffin as the funeral service ends
Too sad: Michael wipes away tears as his mother Marcy Wudarski stands nearby following his father’s funeral
Tragic: James Gandolfini’s wife, Deborah Lin, second from right, his son, Michael and ex wife Marcy Wudarski, left cry after the funeral
We’ve got you: James Gandolfini’s sister Leta kisses her nephew, Michael, on the head as his mother Marcy Wudarski stands behind
Embrace: Actress Edie Falco, who played James Gandolfini’s on-screen wife, Carmela, in The Sopranos hugs a fellow mourner after the funeral for the actor
Kiss goodbye: Michael Imperioli, who played Tony Soprano’s nephew, Christopher Moltisanti, kisses the hand of former co-star Lorraine Bracco, who played Dr. Jennifer Melfi
Wonderful ceremony: Actress Jamie Lynn-Sigler, who played Gandolfini’s daughter Meadow, hugs another mourner after leaving the ceremony that was described as ‘wonderful’
Baby bump: Jamie Lynn-Sigler shows off her pregnant belly after James Gandolfini’s funeral as John Turturro, right, leaves the church following the ceremony
Sombre occasion: Actor Vincent Pastore, who played Salvatore ‘Pussy’ Bonpensiero, and actress Aida Turturro, right, who played Janice Soprano at New York’s the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine on Thursday, June 27, 2013
Paying their respects: Actor Steve Carell, pictured, was among the stars who showed up to pay their respects to Gandolfini
Star-studded: Actors Julianna Margulies, left, and Chris Noth, center, leave the star-studded funeral for the beloved actor
All over: Actor Steve Schirripa, who played Bobby Baccalieri in The Sopranos, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, right, walk out of Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine after funeral services for actor James Gandolfini
Pallbearers: Men hold umbrellas as pallbearers walk with a casket containing the body of actor James Gandolfini at Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine after funeral services for Gandolfini
Crowded: More than 1,000 friends, family and fans filled the cathedral for the service
Leaving the church: Hilaria Baldwin, left, and actress Aida Turturro, who played Janice Soprano, leave the funeral service of James Gandolfini
Traumatic: Michael Gandolfini, left, son of James Gandolfini, arrives for the funeral service of his father, whom he found dead during their Italy vacation last week
Overcome: Jamie Lynn-Sigler, breaks down after the funeral for James Gandolfini, her on-screen father in The Sopranos
On screen wife: Edith ‘Edie’ Falco, center, best known as Carmela Soprano in The Sopranos, arrives at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine for funeral service for her on-screen husband actor James Gandolfini
Stars: Actor Steve Buscemi arrives for the funeral services of James Gandolfini outside the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine
Coffin: The casket of actor James Gandolfini is escorted into the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine for funeral services in New York June 27, 2013
Actresses: Actresses Edie Falco, second left, and Aida Turturro, right, who played Tony Soprano’s sister Janice, arrive for the funeral service of James Gandolfini
Respect: David Chase, with white hair, The Sopranos creator, arrives at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine for funeral service
Tragedy: Pregnant Jamie Lynn Sigler, who played his daughter Meadow, emerged from a car wearing a black dress and dark sunglasses
Crowds: Crowds gather for James Gandolfini’s funeral at The Cathedral of St John the Divine in New York
Fans: Mourners line up outside the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine for funeral service for Gandolfini
Governor: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie arrives at actor James Gandolfini’s funeral service to pay his respects to the New Jersey legend.’
Co-stars: Lorraine Bracco, right, best known for her roles as Dr. Jennifer Melfi on The Sopranos, arrives at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine for funeral
Friends: Joe Pantoliano, who played Ralph Cifaretto in The Sopranos embraced a friend ahead of James Gandolfini’s funeral
Remembering: Joe Pantoliano, right, worked alongside Gandolfini as character Ralph Cifaretto
Emotional: Actors Steve Schirripa, center, who played Bobby Baccalieri in the HBO show broke down at the church as he stood next to John Ventimiglia, who starred as restauranteur Artie Bucco
Peers turn out in force: Jerry Adler, left, who played ‘Hesh’ in The Sopranos, John Ventimiglia, who starred as Artie Bucco, right, and Steve Schirripa, who played Bobby Baccalieri, far right, were among scores of actors who arrived for Gandolfini’s funeral
Baldwin: Actor Alec Baldwin emerged from a car wearing dark sunglasses
Dressed in black: Hilaria Thomas, wife of actor Alec Baldwin, arrives at Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine as does New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, right
Friends: Actors John Ventimiglia, left who played Artie Bucco, and Michael Imperioli, right, who played Tony Soprano’s nephew Christopher Moltisanti chatted before the ceremony
Junior: Actor Dominic Chianese, who played Corrado ‘Junior’ Soprano, Tony’s uncle, arrives at Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine
Fans: Stephanie Solano, right, and her daughter Sophia wait in line outside Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine ahead of the funeral service for James Gandolfini
Flowers: A police officer directs traffic as an SUV full of flowers pulls up to the Cathedral Church of St. John The Divine on Thursday morning
NYPD: Police officers directed traffic out front of the church
His two loves: James Gandolfini’s widow Deborah Lin and his ex-wife Marcy Wudarski are devastated as they arrive at a wake in New Jersey on Wednesday for the late actor
Sad occasion: Friends and family gather to remember the late Sopranos star at this intimate wake
Fatherless: James Galdofini’s 8-month-old daughter Liliana Ruth Gandolfini is carried in to the wake
Terrible day: Gandolfini’s first wife Marcy endured a turbulent split from the star but they bonded over their 13-year-old son
Somber: Leta Gandolfini, sister of James Gandolfini’s arrives at the funeral home with other family members
Respect: The flag hung at half mast for the popular star
Paying tribute: Broadway theatres dimmed their marquee lights on Wednesday in honour of the late Sopranos star
Unusual sight: The usually brightly lit Broadway strip appeared solemn and quiet
Sorely missed: James with his wife (far right), son Michael and a friend (far left) in Italy before he died
Photos/ Captions: [H/T DailyMail]
