Patty Duke Remembered at Public Memorial Service
Her family held a service open to all in Idaho.
— -- Oscar-winning actress Patty Duke was remembered by family, friends and fans at a public memorial service Saturday.
Duke, whose real name was Anna Pearce, died March 29 from sepsis. She was 69.
Hundreds attended the service at Lake City Church in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho -- the same city where she lived with her husband Michael Pearce.
The service featured a sign-language interpreter, a nod to Duke's star-making role as Helen Keller in the 1962 film "The Miracle Worker." She later won an Academy Award for that role.
Duke's son, fellow actor Mackenzie Astin, spoke at the service, thanking his late mother for raising awareness of mental illness. Duke opened up about her diagnosis of bipolar disorder in her 1987 memoir, "Call Me Anna."
He said Duke "put a beautiful face to the illness."
Actress Melissa Gilbert also spoke. She became close friends with Duke after portraying Keller in the television adaptation of "The Miracle Worker" in 1972.
"I hate that I'm here and yet I love that I'm here to celebrate my dear teacher friend, Anna," she said to emotional guests, who were seen wiping away tears. "From the moment we met, we were thick as thieves and we remained that way for 40 years."