Though it’s been months since the world tragically lost Hollywood icons Debbie Reynolds and her daughter Carrie Fisher, the pain still lingers. The family had their own private memorial services following the mother and daughter’s passing, but more seemed necessary to honor them. Thus with the support of his family, Reynolds’s son Todd Fisher organized a public memorial service, so that fans who adored his mother and his sister could have their own opportunity to say goodbye. More than that, it was a celebration of the lives of two women whose joy, charisma, wit, and candor defined multiple generations.
Each woman had their own unique send-off amidst all of the beautiful photos of mother and daughter throughout the years. Carrie Fisher got the proper Star Wars tribute with a montage of her greatest moments in the series, starting with her baby footprints and birth certificate changed to Leia Amadala Skywalker against a starry backdrop, all set to the unforgettable music by John Williams. Never before seen behind the scenes photos and video of her time on the original set with Mark Hamilton and Harrison Ford perfectly set up the nostalgia, with R2D2 coming onto the stage to cry at Carrie’s empty set chair. No true Star Wars fan can stand to see R2D2 upset. Debbie’s most notable role, “Singin’ in the Rain” got multiple song and dance tributes courtesy of Debbie’s dance school, complete with those yellow raincoats, umbrellas, and a little of the late Gene Kelly to remind us they’re dancing together again.
Fans and family were treated to dozens of wonderful stories about Fisher and Reynolds, their life together as mother and daughter and who they were as individuals. For example, did you know that James Blunt wrote his hit single “You’re Beautiful” in Carrie Fisher’s bathroom? That Debbie Reynolds actually hated flowers because they made her sneeze? That Fred Astaire personally coached Debbie after she collapsed from exhaustion on the set of “Singin’ in the Rain”, that Debbie had very strong opinions about the care of veterans from her USO tours in Korea, or that Carrie once yelled “That’s right, you all hit the jackpot!” when fans realized she with them on the Star Wars ride at Disneyworld. Marty Getz’s beautiful performance of his tune “More Than a Watchman” perfectly encompassed all of these things that made up these extraordinary women.
More than anything these were women that cared about people. They dedicated their lives to raising awareness and advocacy for mental health awareness, even before Fisher was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. An army veteran personally thanked Debbie for her work with The Thalians to build a wing at Cedars Sinai for the mentally ill, drug abuse rehab, and an outlet for Operation Mend, which provides free care to Wounded Warriors. Carrie Fisher put her life in a those titular bright lights so that others with mental illness wouldn’t be so afraid to seek help.
What the Fisher family most wanted fans to know is that their legacy will continue to live on. The Los Angeles Gay Men’s Chorus could not have told it better than by singing “True Colors” to a video montage of mother and daughter, which included posters of Princess Leia which circulated during the worldwide Women’s March. Debbie’s very last performance was, fittingly, a collaboration with her daughter and granddaughter singing “How I Love My Pretty Baby.” This family was nothing if not musical, which is why James Blunt wrote a touching song just for his friend Fisher; lyrics included “can’t believe I can’t call/we met in a beautiful place…you broke more than my heart when you left without saying goodbye/I’m here to let you know/I’m here to let you go.” Fisher’s final words following her daughter’s sudden death were that she wanted to be with Carrie, and so a mother’s love did the extraordinary.
Click below to watch moments from the unforgettable memorial, which paid tribute to two irreplaceable women.
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