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10:55 GMT, Friday, 9 January 2009

Private funeral for Travolta son

A woman places flowers by entrance to the estate near Ocara where John Travolta and his family live

A private memorial service has been held in Florida for Hollywood actor John Travolta's son Jett, 16.

The service at Travolta's house near Ocala took place six days after the boy died in the Bahamas.

Jett, who had a history of seizures, was on holiday with his father, his mother Kelly Preston and his sister Ella Bleu when he died.

"We are heartbroken that our time with him was so brief," the Grease star said after his son's death.

Jett was the most wonderful son that two parents could ever ask for and lit up the lives of everyone he encountered," Travolta said on his website.

Thursday's service for Jett, whose remains were cremated earlier this week, reportedly adhered to the tenets of the actor's faith, Scientology.

'Spectacularly supervised'

Jett's sudden death triggered a wave of condolences from around the world.

The couple have said previously that Jett first became ill at the age of two and was later diagnosed with Kawasaki disease, which causes inflammation of the blood vessels in young children.

A post-mortem examination confirmed that Jett was killed by a seizure.

Michael McDermott, one of Travolta's attorneys, earlier this week rebutted the "impression" given by police that Jett had been left on his own in the holiday home.

He said the teenager was "spectacularly supervised" while on holiday because of his medical history, Mr McDermott told the Associated Press news agency.

Actor Tom Cruise, a friend of Travolta and Preston, paid tribute to Jett on US network ABC's programme The View.

"It's horrific - they are both doting parents, just wonderful people. John just adored him," he said.




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Related to this story:
John Travolta's teenage son dies (03 Jan 09 |  Entertainment )
Travolta clan sign up for comedy (26 Apr 07 |  Entertainment )
Travolta comedy hogs film chart (05 Mar 07 |  Entertainment )
Dallas movie 'guns for Travolta' (15 Mar 06 |  Entertainment )
Actor Travolta still flying high (29 Mar 05 |  Entertainment )

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