Arranged by: Joe DiMaggio
Assistants: Berniece Miracle, and Inez Melson
Date: August 8th, 1962
Time: 1:00PM
Place: Westwood Village Mortuary Chapel; Westwood Memorial Cemetery
Reverend: Reverend A. J. Soldan

Marilyn Monroe died August 5th, 1962. Her funeral was arranged by her ex-husband Joe DiMaggio, along with the help of her half-sister Berniece Miracle and former business manager Inez Melson.

Her funeral took place at 1:00PM at the Westwood Village Mortuary Chapel at the Westwood Memorial Cemetery. The only restrictions at the funeral was that none of her Hollywood “friends” could attend – they were to blame for her death. It was conducted by Lutheran minister, Reverend A. J. Soldan, from the Village Church of Westwood.

At the request of Marilyn, Judy Garland’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” was played. The service first began with Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony, and readings were done from The Lord’s Prayer, Psalm 23, chapter 14 of the Book of John, and excerpts from Psalms 46 and 139.

Lee Strasberg gave the eulogy, but only after Joe’s first choice, Carl Sandburg, canceled due to an illness. [ Read the Eulogy ]

Marilyn was dressed in a green Pucci dress, and a green chiffon scarf. Her casket was bronze with champagne colored satin. Her make-up was done by her dear friend, and close companion, Allan “Whitey” Snyder. She held a posy of pink teacup roses, given to her by Joe during his vigil at the side the night before. Because of her autopsy, her hair was damaged, and so, Agnes Flanagan had to put a wig on her similar to the style used in “Something’s Got to Give,” which was her last unfinished film.

Her pallbearers were Allen Abbott, Sidney Guilaroff, Ronald Hast, Leonard Krisminsky and Clarence Pierce.

Facts…

Joe DiMaggio and his son, Joe DiMaggio, Jr. walked behind Marilyn’s hearse, side by side. Joe Jr. was dressed in his Marine uniform, and Joe DiMaggio wore a blue suit and tie.

Marilyn’s first husband, Jim Dougherty, was at work with the Los Angeles Police Department during the funeral and could not attend. Her last husband, Arthur Miller, was remarried and refused to attend.

Marilyn mother, Gladys, was in a sanitarium during the funeral, and did not get out until several years later. She did not remember who Norma Jeane was and did not know who she became. She lived with Berniece for a short period after she was released and went on to work at a nursing home. She died on March 11, 1984 of congestive heart failure. She was living in a nursing home in Florida, home of Berniece, at the time. She was 82 years old and outlived 2 of the 3 children she gave birth to. A woman so fascinated with stardom did not know she was the mother of one of the biggest legends in history.

Marilyn’s crypt is a few feet from Ana Lower and Grace Goddard – her casket passed their graves before she was interned.

Joe sent fresh roses to Marilyn’s crypt 3 times a week for 20 years – a promise he made her years before she died.

At her funeral the reverend said, “How wonderfully she was made by her creator.”