Brittany Murphy Laid to Rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery

Dec. 25, 2009— -- It was a somber Christmas Eve for Brittany Murphy's family, as they said goodbye to the actress at a small, private funeral service.

Murphy's husband, Simon Monjack, described how he had lost his "best friend and soul mate" as the "Clueless" and "Girl, Interrupted" star was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles' Hollywood Hills, the same cemetery where Michael Jackson was buried in August. "24" actor Eric Balfour attended Murphy's service.

Her family said in a statement that "Brittany was an incredibly loving and passionate person and an artist to her core - she loved acting, singing, dancing, and performing. ... A bright light that lit the world is forever dimmed, but will live on in the hearts of those that Brittany touched."

Family spokesman Alex Ben Block told media outlets Thursday that a larger memorial service may be held early next year.

Earlier this week, Simon Monjack rebutted rumors that drugs or an eating disorder contributed to the actress' death, saying that he, along with the rest of the world, wants to know why she died Dec. 19 from a heart attack at age 32.

"These rumors that she was anorexic? It's crazy," Monjack told People magazine Tuesday. "She was slim but that was her natural physique. This is what's killing all of us? How did it happen? Her mum, myself and her family, we want to know why we lost our baby."

Monjack is eager to get the autopsy results, although he initially balked at the thought that "they're going to cut her open," he said, weeping.

Monday, the coroner completed an autopsy of the actress. Murphy suffered cardiac arrest at her Hollywood home Sunday and was pronounced dead on arrival at 10:04 a.m. at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

It will be four to six weeks before laboratory results are in and the official cause of death can be determined, Los Angeles County Chief Coroner Ed Winter told ABCNews.com.

Monjack, a British writer, producer and director, told People that his wife suffered from a heart murmur, which can cause fatigue, dizziness and irregular heartbeats. But she did not require medication to treat a condition that is generally not life threatening, he said.