FAREWELL TO A SUNDERLAND LEGEND FULL STORY:
Sunderland flags were flown and a round of applause given as the friends and family of a Sunderland man gathered to say their final farewell to the city legend.
Dad Leon Hetherington, from Pennywell, died at St Benedict’s Hospice last month aged 36.
He had been diagnosed with a rare form of muscular dystrophy aged three, but it never held him back, with his friends and family sharing his full life and as he ran a series of businesses.
Yesterday, he was laid to rest at Bishopwearmouth Cemetery, where the flags of Sunderland AFC were flown and a round of applause was given, with people asked to keep to social distancing rules and wear the club colours.
It featu re d a p l ayl i s t o f his favourite songs, including LeAnne Rimes’ How Do I Live, a track he and mum Karen, both loved, Forever Young by Becky Hill and Days Like This by Van Morrison, as well as Tubthumping by Chumbawamba.
His music tastes were eclectic, bringing together the tunes he enjoyed with his family and those he listened to with friends – he was a regular at the New Monkey dance club in Pallion during its days.
Donations in lieu of flow
ers will go to St Benedict’s, which Leon supported through his own fundraisers before it helped him and his family as his condition deteriorated.
Ahead of the funeral Karen, 57, said: “The amount of
people who have sent messages, cards and flowers – the house looks like a florist’s shop – it’s been unbelievable the amount of support we’ve been given.
"Everyone from St Benedict’s was amazing, not just
for Leon, but for all of us.”
His mum said people told her he was a Sunderland legend, with people stopping to have their photo taken with him when he was out and about in the city.
Leon, who was a devoted dad to his 13-year-old daughter, also leaves Karen’s partner Tex Fontaine, 60, his dad Gary, 57, and Gary’s partner Bernice Guyan, 49, and he was a brother to Jade, 34, Cassie Purvis, Jack Purvis, both 29, and Caley, 29, and Harley, 17, who live in London near their dad, as well as grandparents Audrey and Mick Hetherington.
The Echo attended Leon’s funeral with permission and kept to social distancing rules.