Entertainer Bob Hope buried after private dawn funeral

<br>LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Bob Hope was buried at San Fernando Mission Cemetery Wednesday following a private funeral Mass. <br><br>The service _ attended by about 100 family members and close friends _ at

Wednesday, July 30th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Bob Hope was buried at San Fernando Mission Cemetery Wednesday following a private funeral Mass.

The service _ attended by about 100 family members and close friends _ at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, a few blocks west of the Hope Toluca Lake estate, was held at 6:30 a.m., police Sgt. Tony Carranza said. There were no details about the Mass, which was a closely guarded family secret.

Police then led a 25-car procession to the cemetery in Mission Hills, a northern San Fernando Valley neighborhood about 12 miles from the Hope estate, Carranza said. There was a half-hour burial ceremony.

Streets around the cemetery were blocked by police to give the family privacy. The family left in three black limousines about 8:30 a.m.

The burial location had been shrouded in secrecy, with speculation including Arlington National Cemetery.

Daughter Linda Hope said Monday that her father, who died Sunday at age 100, was recently asked by wife Dolores where he wanted to be buried and the wisecracking entertainer responded, ``Surprise me.''

The 86-acre cemetery is next to the historic San Fernando Mission Rey de Espana, founded on Sept. 8, 1797.

Other celebrities buried at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery include Richie Valens, William Bendix, William Frawley, Walter Brennan, George Gobel, June Marlowe, Jerry Colonna and Chuck Connors.

President Bush decreed in a special proclamation that flags be flown at half-staff Wednesday. The family also plans an Aug. 27 invitation-only Mass at St. Charles Borromeo and a public memorial that afternoon at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in North Hollywood.