Hundreds of fans lined the streets of Mumbles, Swansea, on Saturday as the coffin of Bonnie Tyler arrived in her Welsh hometown. The singer, known for her hit "Total Eclipse of the Heart," died on July 8 at the age of 75 in Portugal, where she had a home in Albufeira.
Her coffin, draped in a Welsh flag and accompanied by a framed photo, was driven down the high street as crowds burst into applause and sang along to her 1983 classic. Fans threw roses and sunflowers onto Newton Road as the hearse passed, and later left bouquets, artwork, and messages outside her home.
Memorial procession and funeral plans
A memorial procession took place as her body was returned to the UK from Portugal, where she had been undergoing treatment. A statement from William Pressdee Funeralcare, on behalf of Tyler's loved ones, said she would rest at the funeral home until returning to her home in Fernhill on Saturday at 3.30pm. A celebration of her life will be held at Swansea Minster on Monday, August 17, at 12noon, followed by a private family service of committal.
The statement added that Tyler's legacy "lives on in the timeless songs that made her a legend." Her family has invited fans to donate to two charities she supported: Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales and Cerebral Palsy Cymru.
Final months and career
Tyler, whose real name was Gaynor Hopkins, had been eager to tour again before her death, telling Hello! magazine in March that she was in good shape. She gave her final performance at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in London that same month. She was hospitalised in May for a burst appendix and perforated intestine, and remained "very unwell" after coming out of a coma.
Tyler rose to fame with her debut album in 1977 and became known for her distinctive husky voice. She was nominated for three Grammys and married Robert Sullivan in 1973; they owned a home in Portugal since 1988.
