A man got a Star Wars funeral , and it’s one of the best things you will ever see. His widow pulled out all the stops to honor her late husband and give him a send-off for the ages.
Gordon Deacon of Wales probably never imagined his funeral would have a Star Wars theme, complete with Imperial Stormtroopers and guests dressed as different characters from the series. Deacon’s wife also hired a carriage to take her husband to his final resting place on Wednesday.
The 58-year-old father of four children died last month after a long battle with pancreatic and liver cancer. His widow, Marilyn, says he fell in love with the Star Wars franchise when the films first came out in 1977, and his love only grew through the year.
“We used to go to shows and he had a signed photograph of bounty hunter Boba Fett on the wall,” she told ITV . “He had ‘Star Wars’ lightsabers, figurines, cookie jars, the lot.”
Marilyn Deacon specifically requested that guests dress up as any Star Wars character they wished for her husband’s funeral, with one exception. Since he didn’t want anyone wearing black, Darth Vader was forbidden to attend and was not seen at the celebration of his life.
As the carriage carrying his coffin arrived at the church for the service, a group of friends dressed as the Imperial Stormtroopers stood guard and paid honor to the late man.
“He was an amazing man who was a big kid at heart,” his granddaughter told Wales Online . “He would always put a smile on your face. These are just some of the things I will miss about the man who has been my hero since I was born.”
One mourner wore a top saying “may the force be with you”, the famous line associated with Star Wars movies. Additionally, Deacon — as any good Brit — was a massive soccer fan. Liverpool was his team and, of course, the England team.
Some friends were seen wearing Steven Gerrard shirts while others honored the late man with Liverpool shirts. The coffin was covered with the soccer team’s flag, and the grandchildren sang the Liverpool anthem, “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” during the ceremony.
All in all, it was a remarkable scene to witness. Marilyn described the man she lost as “a truly remarkable gentleman,” adding about the Star Wars themed ceremony, “I think he would be over the moon” about it.
[Images via Wales Online ]
