Nov. 12 (UPI) — The life of Jane Goodall was honored Wednesday at Washington National Cathedral, where hundreds—including actor Leonardo DiCaprio and Rep. Nancy Pelosi—gathered to pay their final respects to the famed British primatologist and conservationist.
Goodall, 91, died of natural causes on Oct. 1 in Los Angeles while on a speaking tour. The memorial service, hosted by the Jane Goodall Institute USA, began with a 20-dog salute on the cathedral steps, in honor of her favorite animal, the canine.
“The world mourns your departure, and I ask you that please touch those around the world who are as heartbroken as we are,” Goodall’s grandson, Merlin van Lawick, said during the service. “The seeds of hope you planted have taken root in millions, and it will take millions to carry forth the mission you began. You will live on in countless hearts and your message will continue to bear fruit, sprouting from every corner of this world.”
Jane Goodall is best known for her groundbreaking study of chimpanzee behavior in what is now Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania. Her observation that chimpanzees use tools revolutionized the field of primatology and fundamentally changed how humans view animals.
Her pioneering work also inspired many women to enter the sciences. Over time, Goodall grew to be a powerful force in the environmental movement, focusing on habitat protection and community-centered conservation.
Leonardo DiCaprio, who is also an environmentalist, eulogized Goodall during the service. Calling her “my good friend,” DiCaprio said Goodall did not only change the world but also the lives of many of its inhabitants.
“Jane led with hope. Always. She never lingered in despair; she focused on what could be done. She reminded us that change begins with compassion and that our humanity is our greatest tool,” he said.
While Goodall was not blind to the world’s pressing issues and could be blunt about the greed and overconsumption threatening the planet, she maintained faith in the principles that every voice matters and that we are all connected—and can make a difference.
Even in her later years, Goodall maintained an “almost unimaginable schedule” of travel and work, with “her resilience fueled by purpose,” DiCaprio noted.
“Everywhere she went, she carried one simple, powerful message: that there is still hope and that each one of us can make a difference,” he said.
Jane Goodall was a scientist, a storyteller, a trailblazer, but above all, she was a teacher. Her legacy lives on in the millions she inspired around the world.
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/11/12/Jane-Goodall-funeral/9141763000455/