Farrah Fawcett's final message from beyond the grave to jailbird son: 'I hope you can work out your troubles'

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Heartbroken Ryan O'Neal and his jailbird son Redmond both broke down in tears at the private funeral service of Farrah Fawcett as they listened to the final letter she wrote to them.

The grieving actor and the couple's troubled son wept as they listened at the service at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles.

A friend read out Farrah's letter to Ryan, which addressed the ups and downs of their on/off 30 year relationship: 'When I figure out what it is all about, I can tell you.'

Redmond, who was given three hours release from jail to say goodbye to his mother, was also given inspiration to conquer his drug problems.

Final journey: Farrah's coffin is brought out of the Los Angeles undertakers ahead of the service held yesterday

Goodbye my lover: Ryan O'Neal, right, acts as pallbearer as he carries Farrah's casket into the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

Farrah's letter to her 24-year-old son said: 'The greatest gift of my life was to be your mother. By leaving you behind I hope you will be able to work out all your troubles and grow as a person.'

The friend also read a letter addressed to Farrah's beloved father James Fawcett: 'You gave me life and you were the greatest dad around.'

During the hour long service, Ryan, Redmond and James joined Hollywood stars, friends and family paid tribute to the former Charlie's Angels star who died of cancer last week.

Among them was her co-star Kate Jackson who has battled breast cancer.

Ryan, 68, openly wept as he lifted Farrah's dark-brown casket which was covered in an array of orange and yellow flowers, while flanked by police.

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Grief-stricken: Ryan looks distraught as he carries flower-decked casket into the cathedral

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Pallbearers: The coffin is carried into the cathedral. Hollywood stars, friends and family came to pay their respects

Redmond, who has been serving time for drugs charges, was wearing handcuffs and was accompanied by two police deputies and a sergeant. 

Redmond, who was allowed to visit his mother at her bedside before she died, read a passage from the Old Testament book Lamentations while his father read from the book of Wisdom.

The order of service featured a picture of the gorgeous Farrah in her prime

Guests were given an order of service booklet which had a glamorous image of Farrah on its cover. Giving one of her famous smiles she was seen wearing a sequinned dress.

The order of service also included a few lines of the James Joyce poem At That Hour.

The funeral was held just five days after the 62-year-old lost her long battle against cancer.

Her Charlie's Angel co-star Kate Jackson, 59, looked sombre in a black dress and sunglasses as she entered the cathedral.

Later she recalled her first ever meeting with Farrah, a 'gorgeous, magnificent, glorious girl.'

She first encountered her at a Hollywood party talking to the then married Six Million Dollar Man actor Lee Majors, who later became Farrah's first husband.

She said: '...I was almost blinded by the most gorgeous, magnificent, glorious girl about my age, who was talking and laughing with him.

'I just froze and stared, and I thought to myself, "Oh God, the competition is really bad around here."

'I told her that later when we finally met because we didn’t meet that night - we officially met doing ‘Charlie’s Angels’ - that she was the person that almost made me go home.

'I told her that she was darn lucky that I was still here to do this show because I almost went home because of her, when I saw her I thought, "Oh God, I better go home and, you know, be a teacher or something."’

Jackson told Entertainment Weekly: 'When the first year of ‘Charlie’s Angels’ ended, our friendship didn’t. It just grew stronger and closer through the years.

'I don’t know what the connection that the three of us have is, but it is there, and it is something extremely special.'

Charlie's Angels co-star Kate Jackson came out of seclusion to pay tribute to her 'magnificent' friend

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The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles where Farrah's service took place

Jackson is a breast cancer survivor, and has battled the disease twice.

She added: 'It was not easy at times to be able to be with her these last three years and to be able to continue laughing.

'She was just extraordinary and bright and as sharp as they come and beautiful and her courage, I just… I don’t even know what to say about that. She was never a follower; she was always a leader. Her choices were her choices.'

Also among the mourners was Farrah's best friend Alana Stewart, who along with Ryan, was at the actress's bedside when she passed away.

Alana, who produced Farrah's cancer documentary Farrah's Story, said: 'She was much more than a friend; she was my sister.

Kate arrived for the ceremony with her partner and son

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Farrah's angels:  Marla Maples ex-wife of Donald Trump, her best friend Alana Stewart and model Cheryl Tiegs all attended the Catholic service

'Although I will miss her terribly, I know in my heart that she will always be there as that angel on the shoulder of everyone who loved her.'

Ryan and Redmond were also supported by the actor's eldest son Griffin O'Neal, 44, who his previous marriage to Joanna Cook.

Other guests in attendance included veteran actor Dick Van Patten, model Cheryl Tiegs, Universal Studios president Ron Meyer, Ghostbusters star Ernie Hudson and Donald Trump's ex-wife Marla Maples.

Fans who gathered outside to pay respects to their idol were kept a safe distance away by police.

Solemn: The coffin is carried out of the cathedral led by Ryan O'Neal

Family in mourning: Farrah's devastated father James (left) and Ryan's eldest son Griffin O'Neal

Time to say goodbye: Ryan, who first met Farrah in 1981, leaves his Malibu home for the journey to the cathedral

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Remembering Farrah: (Left-right) Universal Studios President Ron Meyer, veteran actor Dick Van Patten and Ghostbusters star Ernie Hudson

Speaking of his loss last week, Ryan said: 'After a long and brave battle with cancer, our beloved Farrah has passed away.

'Although this is an extremely difficult time for her family and friends, we take comfort in the beautiful times that we shared with Farrah over the years and the knowledge that her life brought joy to so many people around the world.'

Farrah and Ryan met in 1981 and had a son, Redmond, but never married. After separating in the 1990s, they were reunited and had intended to marry before her death.

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Glorious and magnificent: The original Charlie's Angels stars seen here in 1977 from left, Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith, and Farrah Fawcett