Paul O’Grady spoke to Cilla Black about his own funeral at length, the star revealed while speaking at his pal’s funeral eight years ago.
The comedian died “unexpectedly but peacefully” at his home aged 67 on March 28.
He will be laid to rest on Thursday (April 20) with a private service featuring a guard of honour with dogs from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and an appearance from the Salvation Army Band.
READ MORE: Paul O’Grady’s funeral date and details confirmed by husband after tragic death
Fans have been invited to line the streets to mourn the TV legend and a private memorial is also planned for Port Lympne Safari Park, it has been reported.
In clip shown on BBC Breakfast on the day of his funeral, Paul was shown talking about his own funeral arrangements while giving a speech at his pal Cilla’s funeral in August 2015.
Standing at the front of the service, Paul said: “I firmly believed that Cilla was indestructible and I would go definitely go first with the state of my heart.
“In fact we discussed my funeral at length, me and Cilla, and she had a major role in it involving a mantilla lilies but I’m going to have to rethink that now.”
Sharing the funeral plans, Paul’s widow Andre Portasio said: “I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the overwhelming outpouring of support and love I have received since the passing of our beloved Paul O’Grady.
(Image: GETTY)
“Your kind messages, beautiful flowers, and thoughtful texts of condolences have brought me comfort and solace during this difficult time.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the support and love I have received from our community, and we want to thank each and every one of you for your kindness and generosity. As a mark of respect and as Paul would have wanted, we will be holding a private funeral on Thursday, 20th April 2023.
(Image: ITV)
“This information has not been made public, but I wanted to share it with local residents. While the funeral will be a private ceremony, as many of you know, Paul cared a lot about his local community.
“We have therefore requested that the funeral procession passes through Aldington before heading to the church, as a way of marking Paul’s affection for the area.
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“We would therefore like to invite all locals to join us in paying our respects to Paul in Aldington Village between 14:10 – 14:45 on Thursday.
“In order to avoid road congestion and public disorder, we kindly ask all residents to treat this invitation personally and if attending to stand on either Roman Road, Forge Hill, or New Road Hill so to respect the villagers and the local area.
“Please note for public safety Church Road as well as Knoll Hill will be closed on the day of the procession. We kindly ask everyone to respect the family’s wishes and maintain social distancing throughout the event. Thank you for your understanding and support during this difficult time.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
