Robin Williams' family members 'arrive for private memorial service planned by his widow'

Published: 00:35 EST, 16 August 2014 | Updated: 09:37 EST, 16 August 2014

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Robin Williams' close friends and family have already started arriving in Tiburon, California, for a private memorial service, according to a new report.

The late actor's widow Susan Schneider is said to be planning the service where his loved ones will say their goodbyes to the beloved actor and comedian.

Williams was found dead in his home on Monday at the age of 63 and is survived by his three children and third wife Susan.

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Memorial service: Robin Williams family are said to be arriving in Tiburon, California, to mourn the actor, pictured with his widow Susan Schneider and daughter Zelda in November 2011

A source told E! News that the memorial 'will be small' as the couple were 'both very private people.'

Somehow finding the strength and the words to express her grief, Susan released a statement to The New York Times' Dave Itzkoff on Monday.

'This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one if its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings. I am utterly heartbroken,' she began.

'On behalf of Robin's family, we are asking for privacy during our time of profound grief. As he is remembered, it is our hope that the focus will not be on Robin's death but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions.'

Devastated: Susan is reported to be organising the memorial, pictured in April 2012 with the late comedian

Archive: Robin Williams walks red carpet with wife and daughter

Family man: Robin pictured with his sons Cody and Zack, daughter Zelda, and ex wife Marsha at the Tribeca Filma Festival in 2004

And Williams's three children have also all issued their own deeply touching and emotional statements in which they pay tribute to their father, who was found hanged in his bedroom on Monday in California after battling with depression.

Remembered: The 63-year-old left behind a legacy of laughter and joy, pictured in May 2013

In a moving message on Tuesday to well wishers, Williams' first son Zak Williams, 31, said that their father's suicide meant 'I lost my father and a best friend and the world got a little grayer.

''I would ask those that loved him to remember him by being as gentle, kind, and generous as he would be,' said Zak, whose mother, Valerie Velardi was the comic legend's first wife.

The Good Will Hunting star's younger son, Cody Williams, 23, simply said, 'There are no words strong enough to describe the love and respect I have for my father. The world will never be the same without him. I will miss him and take him everywhere I go for the rest of my life, and will look forward, forever, to the moment when I get to see him again.

'The Oscar winner's daughter, Zelda Williams, 25, who has already posted a heart felt message to social media, offered up a bittersweet statement that praised the comic genius' fans, but offered a chastening word to his critics too.

Zelda Williams said: 'Dad was, is and always will be one of the kindest, most generous, gentlest souls I've ever known, and while there are few things I know for certain right now, one of them is that not just my world, but the entire world is forever a little darker, less colorful and less full of laughter in his absence. We'll just have to work twice as hard to fill it back up again.'

Williams was last seen alive about 10.30pm on Sunday by his third wife when she went to bed. Williams locked himself in a different bedroom, Marin County Sheriff's Lieutenant Keith Boyd said this afternoon.

By the time an assistant found the Oscar-winning actor's body at 11.55am on Monday, rigor mortis had set in.

After going to bed Sunday night, Susan got up and left the house to run errands about 10.30am - believing her husband of three years was still asleep.

An assistant, worried when Williams couldn't be roused at 11.45am, broke into the bedroom and found Williams dead.

The official preliminary cause of death was asphyxia due to hanging, police in California said, and conclusion of the investigation is still weeks away.

• For confidential help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
• For confidential support on suicide matters call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 or visit
a local Samaritans branch or visit http://www.samaritans.org