Close family and friends of Gordon Lightfoot got here collectively for a small, personal funeral on Monday held on the Orillia, Ont. church the place he was as soon as a choir boy.
A gaggle of roughly 50 individuals assembled inside St. Paul’s United Church for the almost two-hour ceremony that included a choir efficiency accompanied by an organ.
Underneath the just about cloudless sunny sky, the area people went concerning the day as some other, with some doing yard work and some curious onlookers wandering previous the church to watch the exercise.
One neighbour arrange a garden chair exterior his home to see if Canadian rock royalty the likes of Joni Mitchell and Neil Young would possibly pull up.
Family members carry the casket of singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot after a funeral service at St. Paul’s United Church, in his hometown of Orillia, Ont., Monday, May 8, 2023. The legendary Canadian artist died May 1, on the age of 84 from pure causes.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Thornhill
They didn’t appear to, nonetheless. Most of the seen mourners gave the impression to be Lightfoot’s prolonged household, band mates and others who labored with him over time.
After the ceremony completed, Lightfoot’s casket was loaded right into a hearse and left the church grounds as a small crowd of individuals gathered to watch the proceedings from throughout the road.
Lightfoot is to be laid to relaxation alongside his dad and mom at St. Andrew’s and St. James’ Cemetery.
On Sunday, a public visitation was held at St. Paul’s United Church that drew greater than 2,400 individuals, in accordance with estimates from safety for the occasion.
Elsewhere, a e-book of condolences may be signed at Toronto’s Massey Hall, a venue the place Lightfoot ceaselessly carried out all through his profession.
