James Gandolfini's widow paid tribute to her " honest, kind and loving" husband at his funeral on Thursday (27.06.13).
Deborah Lin opened up about her five year marriage to the 'Sopranos' actor - the father of her nine-month-old daughter Liliana - in an emotional speech at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York.
She said: "My husband was an honest, kind and loving man. He cared more about others than himself. ... Thank you for the memories of the beautiful life we spent together.
"I love you Jim, and I always will. Rest in peace."
James' 'Sopranos' co-stars Edie Falco, Lorraine Bracco, Joe Pantoliano, Dominic Chianese, Steve Buscemi Aida Turturro and Jamie Lynn Sigler also attended the sombre event, along with creator David Chase, who read a letter rather than give a traditional eulogy.
He said: "You were such a great actor, because of that boy inside.
"I think your talent is that you can take the immensity of humankind and the universe and shine it right back at us."
David chose a letter after his attempt at writing a traditional tribute "came out like bad TV".
The Very Rev. James Kowalski, who presided over the service, praised the 51-year-old actor's most famous role as as mob boss Tony Soprano for examining more than just his life of crime.
He said: "If a violent gangster could force me to think more about family conflicts ... and the possibility of redemption, maybe there is this thing called hope."
James died following a massive heart attack on June 19 while on vacation in Rome with his 13-year-old son Michael - from his first marriage to Marcy Wudarski.
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