Friday, 25 January 2008

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Heath's relatives flying to New York for funeral

Family want to keep the day as private as possible

Friday will find relatives of Heath Ledger arriving in New York City for his funeral, says a spokesman for the funeral home handling the service.

Funeral Director Dominic Carella told PEOPLE that arrangements have been made but nothing is going to happen today. He said he expects Ledger's father Kim to arrive at the funeral home tomorrow.

George Amado, the general manager of the Frank E. Campbell funeral chapel, spoke to the Associated Press but declined to supply specifics about the funeral or burial plans.

"The family doesn't want us to give out any information," Amado said.

For the most part, Ledger's family is based in Perth, Australia. Two of his uncles, Mike Ledger and Hayden Ledger, appeared from there via satellite on CBS's The Early Show on Thursday. Another uncle, Neil Bell, lives in California and spoke to PEOPLE about his nephew.

"I heard about his death in the press, and I called his mother to find out what was happening, and even she didn't know," Bell said. "Heath's father found out through the press. ... It's a pretty devastating way to find out."

Campbell's, located at 81st Street and Madison Avenue on Manhattan's Upper East Side, is no stranger to celebrity funerals. Among those who have been paid final tribute there by friends, fans and family include former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, showbiz legend Judy Garland and silent-screen idol Rudolph Valentino.

Ledger's body was taken to Campbell's on Wednesday after he was found dead in his downtown Soho apartment on Tuesday afternoon.

By Stephen M. Silverman