Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh singer who achieved international fame with her 1980s hit 'Total Eclipse of the Heart,' will be laid to rest following a celebration of life service and a public procession, her family announced. Tyler, whose real name was Gaynor Hopkins, died on July 8 at a hospital in Portugal at the age of 75, just months after undergoing emergency intestinal surgery that placed her in an induced coma in intensive care.
Funeral Details and Public Procession
A notice published in the South Wales Evening Post by Tyler's family revealed that a celebration of her life will be held in Swansea next month. The public is invited to line the streets as her body returns to her home, Fernhill, from a local funeral parlour on August 15. The procession will pass along Newton Road in Mumbles at 3:30pm, with those wishing to pay respects asked to gather from 3:15pm.
The celebration of life service will take place at Swansea Minster (St Mary’s Church) on August 17 at 12pm. After the service, Tyler's body will travel through Skewen at approximately 1:20pm en route to a private family committal service. The notice requested family flowers only.
Charity Donations in Lieu of Flowers
In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to two charities Tyler served as patron: Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales and Cerebral Palsy Cymru. The notice stated, 'Her legacy lives on in the timeless songs that made her a legend.'
Musical Legacy and Career Highlights
Tyler's breakthrough came with the 1983 single 'Total Eclipse of the Heart,' which topped charts in both the UK and the US. The accompanying album, 'Faster Than the Speed of Night,' also reached number one in the UK, marking her only UK chart-topping album. Known for her distinctive husky voice, Tyler released numerous other hits, including 'Holding Out for a Hero,' 'It’s a Heartache,' and 'If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man).'
In 2013, she represented the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden, with the song 'Believe in Me,' finishing in 19th place. Tyler received an MBE in 2023 for her services to music.
