Celebs gather to reflect on Hope

LOS ANGELES -- Mourners reflecting the range of Bob Hope's impact on culture gathered at a North Hollywood church Wednesday for a memorial Mass.\nHollywood stars, golfers, politicians, generals and businessmen attended the ceremony celebrated by Cardinal Roger M. Mahony at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church.\nEntering church, Barbara Eden said her memories of Hope were "happiness and laughter" along with the image of him hitting golf balls off decks of aircraft carriers wherever they were abroad to entertain servicemen.\n"I just loved working with him. He was very businesslike, but he had a calmness about him that made everyone else's talent come through. He was an elegant man, he was a gentleman," Eden said.\nHope died at age 100 of pneumonia July 27 at his Toluca Lake home and was entombed July 30 at San Fernando Mission Cemetery.\nEulogies were delivered by U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and writer Larry Gelbart, creator of the "M-A-S-H" TV show.\nBefore the bells of St. Charles summoned the mourners into Mass, some paused outside to reflect on what Hope meant to them.\n"We're going to miss him," Connie Stevens said. "He was a tremendous force on Earth."\n"He was so special because he gave so much to everyone besides his humor," said Loni Anderson. "We've lost a giant, probably the greatest entertainer of our century."\nTom Selleck recalled how Hope recruited him to appear on some of his shows. "Bob always called personally when he wanted you to work with him. It meant a lot and it made it hard to say no," Selleck said.\nAlso among the 900 guests: Mickey Rooney, Dixie Carter, Hal Holbrook, Raquel Welch, Julie Newmar, Marie Osmond, Phyllis Diller, Ed McMahon, Gary Owens, Norm Crosby, retired Gen. William Westmoreland, former California Gov. Pete Wilson and businessman Lee Iacocca.