A gypsy grandmother was given a lavish send-off with 10 Mercedes limos, a white and gold coffin and whisky-bottle floral tributes.
Mary ‘Sissy’ Smith, 73, from Hanworth in west London, was known to be the ‘life and soul of the party’ who could ‘out dance us all’.
Hundreds of mourners gathered outside her home to pay tribute to the great-grandmother, who was described as a ‘proud English Romany Gypsy’.
Seven trucks full of photos, paper hearts and massive floral tributes of her favourite things – such as Chanel nail polish bottles, Guinness, Famous Grouse and bingo cards – passed by as the procession made its way to the church.
Ms Smith, who leaves behind 25 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, was carried out in a coffin into the hearse to Tina Turner’s smash hit Simply The Best.
Seven trucks full of photos, paper hearts and massive floral tributes of her favourite things – such as Chanel nail polish bottles, Guinness, Famous Grouse and bingo cards – passed by as the procession made its way to the church
Crowds and the full funeral cortege, including the trucks of flowers and 10 limos, then moved onto Hounslow Cemetry having stopped to by drink on the way
In a moving tribute, her son Joe said: ‘Mum, if you think, you had the best children in the world, you were the best mum in the world.
‘Me and my brothers, we’re sportsmen and mum had a big part in our careers – she had a good way with sportsmen.’
‘We’re all big Brentford fans and we once met Clayton Donaldson, Brentford footballer, in a west London casino and mum tried to get him to give her his diamond earrings.’
He ended the tribute saying: ‘Mum, all the love and all the care you gave us, it wouldn’t be right not to remember you in a joyous way. We will grieve but we will remember you in the most joyous way.’
The funeral service at a packed St Richards in Forge Road kicked off with Sissy’s favourite song – Dolly Parton’s ‘Coats of Many Colours’ – blasting through the speakers to a montage of photographs of her sipping cocktails, enjoying family meals and dressed up for a day out at Royal Ascot.
Her daughter’s described her as ‘one of the girls’ who ‘loved a girls’ night out’ and ‘could out dance us all’, and her son Joe, a former bare-knuckle boxer, honoured the role his mum played in his successful sporting career.
Mary ‘Sissy’ Smith (left), 73, from Hanworth in west London, was known to be the ‘life and soul of the party’ who could ‘out dance us all’. Pictured (right) is a Smirnoff Ice floral display
The funeral service at a packed St Richards in Forge Road kicked off with Sissy’s favourite song – Dolly Parton’s ‘Coats of Many Colours’ blasting through the speakers to a montage of photographs of her sipping cocktails, enjoying family meals and dressed up for a day out at Royal Ascot on a screen at the front of the church
Ms Smith, who leaves behind 25 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, was carried out in a coffin into the hearse to Tina Turner’s smash hit Simply The Best
The funeral service at a packed St Richards in Forge Road kicked off with Sissy’s favourite song – Dolly Parton’s ‘Coats of Many Colours’ blasting through the speakers to a montage of photographs of her sipping cocktails, enjoying family meals and dressed up for a day out at Royal Ascot on a screen at the front of the church.
A video montage with various clips of Sissy singing and dancing and enjoying a drink was also played during the service.
The funeral heard how Sissy settled in Hanworth with her beloved husband Aaron in 1981, that she loved her local pub and Bingo and was famous for her unrivalled meat pie and pudding.
The service was brought to a moving end with ‘Together Again’ by Buck Owen playing as Sissy’s coffin was carried out.
Crowds and the full funeral cortege, including the trucks of flowers and 10 limos, then moved onto Hounslow Cemetry having stopped to by drink on the way.
Glasses and bottles were raised to Sissy at her graveside where songs were played and huge crowds gathered to give an exceptional woman an unforgettable send off.