A private service was held in a hall decorated with her favourite champagne roses and white orchids at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Fronting her flower-decked coffin was a picture of Sum, smiling and dressed in red.

The entertainer died in Hong Kong on Feb 19, aged 62, after a two-year battle with cancer.

Some 200 family members and friends attended the service, including Sum's daughter Joyce Cheng, Mrs Chang Cheh, the late film-maker's wife, Sum's manager Chan Suk Fan and celebrities such as composer Joseph Koo.

Representatives for Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and others in the Vancouver government were reportedly also present.

Among the 200 floral wreaths laid in and around the hall was one of white flowers from Sum's ex-husband, actor Adam Cheng, who was not present. It read: 'Miss Lydia Sum rest in peace. Respectfully, Adam Cheng.'

Celebrities like Jacky Cheung, Deborah Li and Ivy Ling Po also sent wreaths. According to Singtao Daily, no special religious rites were conducted.

With veteran actor Yueh Hua as the master of ceremonies, the service started with the screening of a video featuring Sum's career.

Government representatives spoke and Sum's sister and brother gave heart-warming speeches. Cheng wept during her eulogy in which she called her mother 'my shooting star'.

A video of the funeral will be shown during a memorial service at the Hong Kong Coliseum on Sunday.

During the hour-long service, about 100 reporters and photographers were kept outside the park by policemen. But a reporter who sneaked inside to take pictures was arrested.

After the burial, the media was let in to visit Sum's grave, sited a kilometre from her parents'.

A letter from Mr Harper was distributed after the service, praising Sum for her contributions to the Canadian Chinese community.

The Vancouver City mayor Sam Sullivan has also declared June 1 this year to be 'Fei Fei Day', referring to Sum's Chinese nickname and in honour of her contribution to the Vancouver community. June 1 is supposedly Sum's birthday.

Mr Sullivan made the special proclamation with Cheng on Tuesday at a council meeting.