Patrick Swayze’s widow told the annual Women’s Conference in California that the loss of her husband of 34 years has left her with sadness “on a cellular level.”

Lisa Niemi, making her first comments since his death at 57 from pancreatic cancer, said her pain “made all the sadness and grief previous to that look like an intellectual concept.”

Niemi says grappling with the “Dirty Dancing” star’s death was “an animal all its own.”

‘This Is It’ already hit

According to studio estimates, late-night screenings of “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” have earned $2.2 million at the North American box office.

Distributor Sony calls results “unprecedented” for a Tuesday in October. The film, which opened in 99 countries, chronicles Jackson’s concert preparations for what would have been 50 comeback concerts.

8 celebs burglarized

Megan Fox, Brian Austin Green and Ashley Tisdale were allegedly burglarized by a teen crime ring, the Los Angeles Police Department said. Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Rachel Bilson, Audrina Patridge and Orlando Bloom also are confirmed victims.

Officer Brett Goodkin said that millions of dollars of property was believed stolen by a gang of teen suspects between late 2008 and September. Five teens and a 27-year-old have been arrested. Another teen has been formally accused of the Lohan and Patridge burglaries.

Star quits Scientology

“Crash” director Paul Haggis has severed his ties with the Church of Scientology after 35 years, in part because of what he alleged as the organization’s stance against gay marriage.

Haggis, 56, wrote a letter to Tommy Davis, head of Scientology’s Celebrity Centre, saying he was disappointed by the church’s tacit denial of gay rights in the debate over California’s gay marriage ban.

Haggis said he was promised that action would be taken. “Silence is consent, Tommy,” he wrote. “I refuse to consent.”

Charity have wish?

The Journal Gazette is seeking wishes from area charities for those in need over the holidays. The list will be published Nov. 27 and 28. Needs for animal-related charities will run separately. Any non-profit group or organization from northeast Indiana or northwest Ohio that wants inclusion should e-mail jmccartney@jg.net or fax 260-461-8893. Mark wishes with “Journal Gazette Giving” and include the group’s name, mission, address, phone number and needs, including drop-off times and locations. You can also mail information to Journal Gazette Giving, 600 W. Main St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802. Deadline is noon Nov. 11.

Happy birthday

Among celebrity birthdays today: Actor Richard Dreyfuss is 62. Actress Kate Jackson is 61. Actor Dan Castellaneta (“The Simpsons”) is 52. Rapper Paris is 42. Actress Winona Ryder is 38.