Doris Day, the iconic actress that brought comedy and poise to the big screen, passed away surrounded by her family and friends Monday morning.   This, according to her long time manager and friend Bob Bashara, was how she wanted it.  No funeral, no headstone, no memorial, just an intimate last moment with those she held dear.

Doris Day found fame at the age of 26 when she appeared in Romance On The High Seas. She seemed to always have a drive to succeed.  This began when she was a 14 year old dancer from Cincinnati that visited Hollywood.  She came back home ready to pack her bags when the very night before her big adventure she was injured when the car she was riding in was hit by a train.  Her dancing career ended that day, but instead of giving up on her dreams she focused on singing.

Even though it has often been reported that she stopped working in her early 50’s, Doris continued her singing career well into her 90’s with her last soundtrack contribution last year in the television movie My Dinner With Herve’.

Doris’ manager and friend Bob Bashara often tried to talk to her about her estate plans, but she refused to speak of anyone’s death, including her own.  Instead, she just asked Bob to make sure that her Doris Day Animal Foundation continue to be funded and for her pets to be well taken care of.  With her entire estate (estimated at $22 million) going to her foundation she will continue to do what she loved most, taking care of animals, well after her death.