Mar 27, 2011 11:29 GMT  ·  By

A fabulous Hollywood diva in the basic sense of the word, Dame Elizabeth Taylor lived her life as she saw fit. Even in death, she continues to be just as fabulous as before, making sure she was fashionable late at her own funeral.

Ladies are supposed to be 15 minutes late at important functions – and Dame Liz Taylor was a lady by all counts.

At her funeral, which was held on Thursday, she made sure guests were kept waiting for the traditional 15 minutes, People magazine reports.

The actress, it would seem, gave precise indications that her body be brought in later than the appointed hour, but by no more than a quarter of an hour.

“Elizabeth Taylor was laid to rest Thursday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, Calif., in a small, private funeral attended by friends and family that began 15 minutes after schedule – under instructions she left,” People writes.

This is confirmed by a spokesperson for the family, who says for the celebrity magazine that, “She even wanted to be late for her own funeral.”

“Taylor’s casket was closed and draped with gardenias, violets, and lily of the valley. She was interred in The Great Mausoleum, the same resting place for her longtime friend Michael Jackson,” People further reports.

The screen icon died this week, at the age of 79. A public memorial service will be held at a later, yet to be announced date.

“Taylor’s son Michael Wilding, her daughter Liza and her grandson Tarquin Wilding also read selections, and her grandson Rhys Tivey performed a trumpet solo of ‘Amazing Grace’,” People says of the funeral service.

Right up to her unexpected death, Taylor remained a fascinating public figure, as outspoken as always and just as involved in various charitable organizations.

She never missed an opportunity to speak of her involvement in them, in the hope that she would get others to do the same and thus lend a hand to the cause – just like she did in one of her last interviews, when she sat down with Kim Kardashian for Harper’s Bazaar, as we also informed you at the time.