A funeral service for Jane Goodall, the trailblazing primatologist and conservationist who transformed the world’s understanding of chimpanzees, will take place at the Washington National Cathedral on Nov. 12.
The private, invite-only service will be led by Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington and Dean Randolph Marshall Hollerith, with remarks from Goodall’s family and other speakers yet to be announced. The public is invited to watch the service online at 11 a.m.
Goodall, who died last month at 91, devoted her life to wildlife research and conservation work. Her landmark observations on chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania — including their ability to make and use tools and form complex social bonds — redefined humanity’s understanding of the primate world.
In 2025, then-President Joe Biden awarded Goodall the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, recognizing her groundbreaking scientific achievements and lifelong environmental advocacy.
