“RIP Betty White,” Tweeted Seth Meyers. “The only SNL host I ever saw get a standing ovation at the after party. A party at which she ordered a vodka and a hotdog and stayed til the bitter end.” Since White passed away at her Los Angeles home social media has been blowing up with reflections and tributes to the late actress and animal rights activist. Fans have been leaving flowers and stuffed animals and mementos on her star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame. White was much beloved around the world and by her industry. A winner of five Primetime, one Daytime and a life achievement Emmy, she held the Guinness World Record for having the longest TV career by a female entertainer working in TV, radio and stage. She was also adored for her special brand of wit and the range of the many roles she played from saucy, hard-hitting Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show to innocent Rose Nylund in The Golden Girls and everything in between. “You know what’s really great?,” Tweeted Paula Poundstone. “We told Betty White that we loved her while she was still alive.” And the love continues after her passing. For White’s legions of fans wondering about her funeral and how to honor the late legend, here is what we know so far about her funeral and tributes.
When is Betty white’s funeral?
We don’t yet have details on Betty White’s funeral. Her longtime agent, Jeff Witjas told ET that funeral arrangements “are being made” and that “they’ll probably be private.” “Everything being done is being followed by her choices,” he said. “I’m not involved in that part, but she never sat with me and told me, ‘Jeff, when I pass, this is what I want.’ I didn’t want to go there a lot with Betty…I’m sure she had certain wishes, but I did not talk to her about that.” We will update this space as soon as we know more details about her funeral.
Can the public attend Betty White’s funeral?
Probably not. Her funeral arrangements are being handled privately at White’s request. “As in life, she never wanted people to make a fuss over her,” Witjas told People. There is already a memorial on her star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
How can you pay your respect to Betty White?
You can certainly pay your respects to White any time and anywhere. If you want to make a donation in the memory of the devoted animal rights advocate, some of her favorite organizations were The Los Angeles Zoo, Tree People, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Wildlife Learning Center, Actors and Animals for Others, The Aquarium of the Pacific and Guide Dogs For the Blind. “If someone has a desire to do something in her honor, you can support or donate to one or more of her favorite charities or even donate to a local animal charity of your choice,” Witjas told People. There are several tributes to her on the big and small screen. CMT will air The Golden Girls All-Day Marathon on Monday, Jan. 3 beginning at 9 a.m. ET, which will include back-to-back episodes of the best Golden Girls shows featuring Rose Nyland. On Jan. 17, what would have been Betty White’s 100th birthday, the documentary Betty White: A Celebration will play in almost 900 movie theaters around the nation.
Will Betty white’s funeral be on TV?
It’s unlikely that Betty White’s funeral will be televised, but there will be plenty of tributes to the comedic legend. This past Saturday, Saturday Night Live re-broadcast the Emmy-winning Mother’s Day show she hosted on May 8, 2010 and CMT is aired a Golden Girls All-Day Marathon on Jan. 3. Also, on Jan. 17, Betty White’s 100th birthday, the documentary Betty White: A Celebration will play in almost 900 movie theaters around the nation. The film provides a behind-the-scenes look into her life and even goes to her birthday celebration. Special guests include Ryan Reynolds, Tina Fey, Robert Redford, Lin Manuel- Miranda, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Jay Leno, Carol Burnett, Craig Ferguson, Jimmy Kimmel, Valerie Bertinelli, James Corden, Wendie Malick and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Go to www.fathomevents.com for tickets.
Where will Betty White be buried?
While it has not been announced where Betty White will be buried, she could be returned to her dear husband Allen Ludden’s side and be buried in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. The pair, who met on Password, the show that Ludden hosted, were married from 1963 until his 1981 death from stomach cancer. Another possibility is near her cherished home in Carmel, California which she lived in with Ludden. They purchased the land for the house for $170,000 in 1978. Or perhaps she will be returned to her hometown of Oak Park, Illinois. (There is even a petition to designate A Betty White Day in Oak Park.) As more details emerge, we’ll update this post will more information. Please check back. Next, Betty White’s Recipe for a Long Life: ‘Hot Dogs and Vodka’
