FRIENDS CHRISTMAS Remembering Matt

THREE days after Matthew Perry's  tragic death on Oct. 28, his former Friends' castmates, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, and Matt LeBlanc, released a joint statement expressing their sadness over the loss of the beloved actor.

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 "We are all so utterly devastated," they said in part, adding, "We were more than just cast mates.

We are a family. There is so much to say, but right now we're going to take a moment to grieve."

In the weeks that followed, the group attended his Nov. 3 funeral and shared touching tributes with fans on their social media accounts. Now a source tells Star they're planning a special get-together over the holidays to privately celebrate Matt's life. "It was always their plan to get together just the five of them, so they could feel comfortable about saying whatever's on their minds," says the source, noting that the intimate gathering will take place at Jen's Bel-Air home. "They'll reminisce about some of their favorite times with Matt and share stories and laugh and cry."

LEANING ON EACH OTHER

The longtime pals haven't had a chance to fully process their grief together yet.

"The funeral was such a sad occasion, but it was mainly for Matt's family, and they held back out of respect for them," explains the source. The private gathering will be an emotional one. "There will undoubtedly be tears," adds the source.