Alas, Poor Andrew, I Knew Thee Well:

Twenty-three years ago, Andy Warhol (Andrew Warhola) died in New York City of complications from routine gallbladder surgery. Warhol's body was taken back to Pittsburgh by his brothers for burial. The coffin was a solid bronze casket with gold plated rails and white upholstery. Warhol was dressed in a black cashmere suit, a paisley tie, a platinum wig, and sunglasses. He was posed holding a small prayer book and a red rose. Although most never knew, Warhol was a deeply devout Catholic. The funeral was held at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church on Pittsburgh's North Side. The eulogy was given by Monsignor Peter Tay. The coffin was covered with white roses and asparagus ferns. After the liturgy, the coffin was driven to St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery. At the grave, the priest said a brief prayer and sprinkled holy water on the casket. Before the coffin was lowered, Paige Powell (his closest companion) dropped a copy of Interview magazine and a bottle of the Estee Lauder perfume "Beautiful" into the grave. Warhol was buried next to his mother and father. A few weeks later a memorial service was held in Manhattan for Warhol on April 1, 1987, at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Warhol was once quoted as saying, "I'm a deeply superficial person." For all his strangeness, I think he was really quite a normal person... with a great sense of humor.