from the New York Daily News:
Honoring Heath Ledger Celebs, family remember fallen star at serviceBY DAVID COHEN in Perth, Australia, and LEO STANDORA in New York
DAILY NEWS WRITERS
Saturday, February 9th 2008, 4:00 AM
A star-studded funeral was held for actor Heath Ledger Saturday in the Australian hometown he left nearly 10 years ago to become a Hollywood heartthrob.
More than 700 people - many from Hollywood and others from the Australian sports, business, arts and entertainment worlds - gathered at the exclusive Penrhos College in Perth for a service before his body was laid to rest.
A hush descended on knots of people waiting outside shortly after noon as Ledger's parents and his ex-girlfriend Michelle Williams arrived in a gleaming black BMWs.
Williams, wearing a stylish but subdued cream knee-length dress with black edging, supported Ledger's sister, Kate, who was in tears and trembling as she walked in.
Matilda Rose, the 2-year-old daughter of Williams and Ledger, did not appear.
Heads also turned when model Gemma Ward, an ex-Ledger girlfriend, arrived with her sister, Sophie.
Gemma Ward looked like she had stepped off the cover of a fashion magazine in a knee-length black dress.
Others attending were actors Bryan Brown, Cate Blanchett and Joel Edgerton and movie directors Phillip Noyce and Neil Armfield.
Jake Gyllenhaal, who co-starred with Ledger in his most famous film, "Brokeback Mountain," arrived in Australia Friday but wasn't seen at the college.A local musician said he opened the service by playing an ancient Aboriginal dirge on a didgeridoo. Music played a large role in the ceremony, which ended with the Beatles' "Come Together."
Ledger, 28, died of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs in his SoHo apartment Jan 22.
After the service, 10 family members left to bury Ledger's remains at a Perth cemetery.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2008/02/09/2008-02-09_honoring_heath_ledger_celebs_family_reme-1.html