Zsazsa Gabor's Ashes Laid to Rest in Hungary

Nearly five years after her death, part of the ashes of Hungarian-born American actress Zsazsa Gabor were laid to rest in the Artists' Plot of the Fiumei Road Cemetery in Budapest this Tuesday.

Prince Frédéric von Anhalt, widow of Zsazsa Gabor, in cooperation with the National Heritage Institute and the Hungarian Hollywood Council, brought some of the ashes of the world-famous actress home from America to be laid to rest in her native country, in accordance with her will. A memorial service for the artist was also held in Los Angeles in 2016.

Frédéric von Anhalt, the Hungarian-born Hollywood star's ninth husband, said in his eulogy at the ceremony that the service was not a funeral but a celebration of Zsazsa Gabor's life, as the actress would have wanted. 

The widow, who had lived with the actress for 36 years, said she was the most beautiful woman to leave Hungary, but had never forgotten her homeland during her film career.

Balázs Bokor, President of the Hungarian Hollywood Council, said that Gábor Zsazsa had become a celebrity without Facebook and Instagram. "It's OK if it's not true, just talk about me," he quoted the diva's famous saying.

“Today, we are not here to talk about a celebrity, but about a person who has preserved her Hungarian identity for the rest of his life. Zsazsa wanted to see the world, but she always thought of Hungary," Balázs Bokor pointed out.

He added that the story of Zsazsa Gabor will not end with the final resting place of his ashes. The Council considers it important to preserve the memory of the Hungarian-rooted Hollywood personality and to make her widely known, and plans to make a film about the life of Zsazsa Gabor.

After the speeches, Frederic von Anhalt laid Zsazsa Gabor’s ashes in the grave. A wreath of yellow roses, the actress's favorite flowers, and a rosary were placed next to the urn.

The Hungarian-born Golden Globe-winning actress (originally known as Sári Gábor) is one of the few Hungarians to have received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her career began in 1936 when she won the ‘Miss Hungary’ title. Five years later, she moved to America with her family, and thanks to her acting, beauty and scandals, the whole world became familiar with her name. Zsazsa Gabor married nine times in her life, his last marriage being in 1986 to Frédéric von Anhalt, who remained by his side until her death. Her health began to deteriorate in 2002 after a car accident left her partially paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. She survived a suicide attempt and two strokes, but was increasingly hospitalized. In January 2010, her right leg was amputated due to an infection. Her death was caused by sudden cardiac arrest on December 18, 2016.