Sunderland man Leon Hetherington laid to rest as friends and family attend his funeral
and live on Freeview channel 276
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.
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Hide AdToday, Monday, January 4, 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 featured a playlist of 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 flowers will go to St Benedict’s, which Leon supported through his own fundraisers before it helped him and his family as his condition deteriorated.
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Hide AdAhead 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.
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