'Always on my mind' - wife and family pay heartfelt tribute to 'amazing' Gavin Donnelly who passed away eight days after wedding

Gavin Donnelly sadly died on Saturday September 3 at the age of 33, just eight days after marrying Caroline.

The couple made the decision to bring forward their wedding after he was given a devastating terminal diagnosis that he only had months to live following the return of sarcoma – a bone cancer which had which had spread to his right leg, lungs, liver, spleen, bowels and pelvis.

It was standing room only as friends and family packed into the crematorium to pay their respects and say a final farewell.

Gavin made his final journey through the city he loved in a white carriage pulled by four horses with the cortege led by a hearse with carried floral tributes spelling out the simple message ‘brother’, ‘nephew’, ‘husband’ and ‘grandson’.

Caroline, 25, said: “He was everything to me and such an amazing person. He really saved me from a rough patch I was going through a few years ago and I just wish I could have saved him like he saved me.

"He is going to be missed by everyone including our dog Neo who was like a son to him. He spent a lot of time at home with Neo and me during his chemotherapy and Neo has been really depressed since he passed away.”

Caroline explained Gavin was passionate about football and in particular Sunderland AFC. In keeping with this love affair, many of the mourners arrived in SAFC shirts, some with the name ‘Gav’ on their backs.

Gavin’s coffin was also adorned with the club’s badge while the four white horses sported red and white head-dresses.

Caroline, who also wore a Sunderland AFC shirt throughout the service, said: “Gavin would be so proud to see me in my Sunderland shirt today. I’m a born and bred Geordie but Gavin loved Sunderland and would go to the Stadium of Light and follow all the games.”

Gavin was a talented footballer in his own right, playing in goal for local teams including his Sunday team, Grange Town Florists.

Former manager Ian Ferguson, 71, said: “Gavin was an all round great young man and to lose him at 33, after we though he’d got over his cancer, is just so sad. He was a great lad and an excellent goalkeeper who always gave his best.”

Gavin also played in goal for Sunderland Hendon FC and the club posted their own tribute on social media which simply said “a great goalkeeper and an even better bloke.Taken away from us far too soon. RIP Gav”.

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Many of Gavin’s team mates joined his family at the service where photographs of his playing days, childhood and time spent with Caroline and other family members were projected around the room.

Committal Service Officiant Susan Gibson also spoke warmly about Gavin’s “great sense of humour”, love for his family, including Neo, and his bond with former dog Bailey when growing up.

Caroline was joined by tearful family members in placing red roses on Gavin’s coffin before saying their final farewells as a heart wrenching rendition of Elvis Presley’s ‘Always on my Mind’ echoed the thoughts of his family as they left the crematorium.

One of those was Gavin’s cousin, Connor Radcliffe, 28, who said: “It was a great send-off. I will miss you mate and you will always be on my mind.”