Friends and family of the late Linda McCartney ranging from Twiggy to Neil Young gathered to pay tribute Monday to the wife of former Beatle Paul McCartney at a private memorial service at a Manhattan church.
The service for Linda McCartney, who died in April of breast cancer at the age of 56, was not open to the public or press, but an order of ceremony and a transcript of Paul McCartney's speech were released."It's a very sad time for all of us, but she would not want us to be sad, but to count our blessings as there are so many of them," McCartney said.
"I was so lucky to be the one she chose. I want to thank New York. Linda was born here and she was a true New Yorker, she was a friend, a beautiful friend to so many people."
"You know I love her and you all love her too, that's why we're all here tonight. I love you, Linda," McCartney said.
After a welcome by the Rev. Fanny Erickson and an address by photographer Ralph Gibson, the Loma Mar Quartet performed a series of songs Paul McCartney wrote for his wife, including "The Lovely Linda," "Maybe I'm Amazed" and "My Love."
A highlight was the leading of a lone appaloosa horse down the aisle of the Riverside Church as a tribute to Linda McCartney's love of animals. An animal rights activist, she brought a line of successful vegetarian food.
Outside the church, a somber mood prevailed as celebrities, including television journalist Diane Sawyer, her husband film director Mike Nichols, designer Ralph Lauren, pop star Paul Simon and Harper's Bazaar editor Liz Tilberis, herself a cancer survivor, arrived.