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Patrick Swayze's Remains Cremated

Death certificate released Thursday but no word on family funeral; one public tribute set for North Carolina

By Josh Grossberg, Whitney English Sep 17, 2009 9:27 PMTags
Patrick SwayzeMike Marsland/Getty Images

Patrick Swayze is closer to his final resting spot.

The actor's remains have been cremated, according to his death certificate released today and obtained by E! News.

Swayze died Monday at the age of 57 of pancreatic cancer.

His ashes are being stored at his lawyer's office on behalf of his wife of 34 years, Lisa Niemi, per the death certificate.

There has been no comment from Swayze's publicist about any plans for a family memorial service at this time or whether his ashes will be scattered at his beloved New Mexico ranch.

However, fans will be able to pay their respects to Swayze at a public event being organized by the North Carolina town of Lake Lure, whose pristine outdoors doubled for much of Dirty Dancing's Catskills setting, including the cabin where Baby meets Johnny Castle.

A memorial will take place 7 p.m. Saturday at Firefly Cove, which stood in for the film's Camp Chimney Rock. While the event is free, attendees will be asked to make a donation to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in the star's name.

Meanwhile, ABC's Dancing With the Stars will also pay tribute to Swayze, who was a onetime guest on the hit hoofing contest, with a special episode set to air Sept. 23.

Swayze waged a courageous 20-month battle with his cancer. Despite the severity of the disease, he managed to star in A&E's cop series The Beast and cowrite his memoirs with Niemi. The Time of My Life (its title a reference to the Dirty Dancing's theme) hits stores Sept. 29 and details the highs and lows of his Hollywood career, his struggles with alcohol and fight with cancer.

In excerpts published by People, Swayze revealed that his diagnosis at first "seemed like a cruel joke."

"I couldn't be dying—I had too much to live for!" he wrote.

Although he struggled through the horrible effects of chemotherapy "determined to live until a cure was found," he eventually would make peace with his fate.

"I began thinking to myself, I've had more lifetimes than any 10 people put together, and it's been an amazing ride," he reflected. "So this is OK."

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E! Online looks back at Patrick Swayze's life and career.