Fans, friends remember Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds at public memorial

Fans and friends paid tribute to Carrie Fisher and her mother, Debbie Reynolds, at a spirited publicmemorial for the late actresses who died in December within days of each other.

Some waited outside the Hall of Liberty at Forest Lawn cemetery in the Hollywood Hillssince early morning to ensure they got a seat inside.

"I worked three jobs to get myself here since January," said Rebecca Fisher-Jackson, who traveled to L.A. from Cornwall, England, for the service and said Carrie Fisher wasa big part of her childhood.

"I came here yesterday to see hergrave and I burst into tears."

Fisher, 60, a writer and actressbest known for her role asPrincessLeiain theStar Warsfilms, died Dec. 27 after suffering a medical emergency a few days earlier on a flight from London.

Reynolds, who became famous for her role inSingin' in the Rainin 1952, died the following day at the age of 84.

• Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds mourned at private memorial

Fisher's final work on screen will be seen inThe LastJedi, anupcoming film in theStar Warsfranchise.

• No plans todigitizeCarrie Fisher in future Star Wars films

Todd Fisher, who organized the public service for his late sister and mother, told reporters Saturday thatReynolds "hated funerals" so "we're having a party."

The two-hour ceremony included music,dance and rare footage of the mother-daughter duo discussing their lives.

Many fans showed up in Star Wars memorabilia.

"I am a huge Star Wars fan but Carrie had a really cool personality," said Randy Matthews, dressed in a Star Wars T-shirt and Empire Strikes Back baseball cap. "She wasn't worried about offending people, which is a unique quality, I think. Not all celebrities are like that."

"People are taking pictures like they would at a convention," said Lindsay Garcia, another fan in attendance."People are happy to come here. It's not a sad thing."

DanAykroydwas among the speakers who made the audience laugh, describing Fisher as a chatterbox who never let him speak during their relationship.

The ceremony also featured a new songbyYou're Beautiful singer James Blunt. Blunt was close friends withFisher.

Fisher and Reynolds wereburied togetherin January at the same cemetery where the public memorial was held aplacewhere other well-known entertainers, including John Ritter and Lucille Ball, werealso buried.