Ledger farewelled at private funeral 

Australian actor Cate Blanchett and Heath Ledger's parents and sister gave moving eulogies at the Hollywood actor's memorial service in his hometown of Perth.

More than 600 family and friends farewelled the Oscar-nominated actor at the service, held at Penrhos College, a private girls' school in the south Perth suburb of Como.

The farewell was an emotional celebration of the young actor's life.

The programme for the service read: "This room is filled with the love we all felt for a great friend who will be missed by all of us.

"We want to thank those of you who took care of him and participated in his beautiful life."

One of the mourners said Blanchett "gave a funny and moving eulogy about their times spent together".

Kate Ledger spoke beautifully about her childhood with Ledger and how close she felt to him, the mourner said.

Ledger's parents Kim Ledger and Sally Ledger Bell also paid tribute to their son.

Mourners watched family montages and a montage about Matilda, Ledger's two-year-old daughter with former fiancee, actor Michelle Williams.

Williams did not bring Matilda to the service at the school.

The service heard some of Ledger's favourite music including the song The Times Are A Changing by Bob Dylan.

His family and Williams left by a side entrance ahead of his private funeral.

The family have held a private funeral service at Fremantle Cemetery, where it is understood a cremation service took place.

The family left in a convoy of four black BMWs.

A wake was expected to be held at a beachside restaurant in Perth.

Earlier today, Kim Ledger told journalists the family was grateful for the support they had had from all over the world but wanted to grieve in private.

"...I just ask you if you wouldn't mind to respect our privacy.

"The funeral will be very, very private. There will only be 10 people there, immediate family and nobody else."

Ledger said the family appreciated the outpouring of grief from around the world.

"It's a pretty sad time and we're finding it difficult to cope y ourselves, let alone cope with everybody around the world.

"Having said that we do really appreciate the outpouring and the emotional support from all over the world, which, suffice to say, we're luckier than most families, most families that are in our
position, our grieving position, don't have that kind of support.

"So thank you all very much. That's all I've got to say."

Ledger, 28, an Oscar nominee in 2006 for Brokeback Mountain, was found dead in his Manhattan apartment on January 22.

The New York Medical Examiner's Office ruled Ledger died from an accidental overdose of prescription medications.