GEORGE MAKES NO-FUSS EXIT

The body of former Beatle George Harrison was cremated in a cardboard coffin in a funeral at a chapel dubbed Disneyland for the Dead.

Harrison's $950 funeral ceremony was held just hours after he died in Los Angeles on Thursday, it was confirmed yesterday.

It took place in a chapel at the Hollywood Forever Cemetary and Crematorium, the outlandish resting place of Rudolph Valentino and Cecil B. De Mille. The cemetary is notorious for putting popcorn stands among the graves.

The cemetary's production co-ordinator, Annette Lloyd, said the Harrisons were obviously working to a carefully prepared script.

"Mr Harrison died at 1:30pm local time," she said. "Twenty minutes later we got the call saying to get ready for a VIP body."

"It was a surprisingly simple service considering who we were dealing with. There was no fuss or fanfare."

A handful of friends and family attended the 35 minute service.

Harrison's wife, Olivia, and son Dhani were given the ashes after the service and were said to be preparing to cast them on a river in India, in accordance with his wishes.

The death from cancer of the so called quiet Beatle, at just 58, caused mourning around the world.

Profoundly spiritual, Harrison's faith meant his body should be cremated as quickly as possible.

Within 20 minutes of his death, staff from Hollywood Forever were on their way to the Los Angeles home of Gavin De Becker, where Harrison died.

When the funeral was over the family revealed to the world that the guitarist, songwriter and singer was dead, Ms Lloyd said.

Harrison had a plan for his death in which he ruled out dying at his mansion in Henley-on-Thames because it would have been mobbed by fans.

In the plan, reportedly drawn up while he was being treated in New York just a week ago, he decided to go to Mr De Becker's home, knowing he could die in privacy.

The death plan was drawn up with Mr De Becker, a private eye who gained fame as security advisor to stars such as Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer and Jeff Goldblum.

He also helped comic Bill Cosby capture the killer of his son Ennis.

The pair decided Harrison could not die at his English home or in a New York hospital.

In the final days of his life, Harrison was still writing songs for a final solo album, which may be called Portrait Of A Leg-End a joking reference to his celebrity and his involvement with Monthy Python's Flying Circus.

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