"It's not goodbye, it's see you later."
Those are the words spoken by newly-wed Caroline Donnelly, 25, during the funeral of her beloved husband who died just weeks after they married.
Gavin Donnelly passed away on Saturday, September 3, aged 33, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. Today tears flowed as loved ones gathered to pay their respects to the "gentle giant" in a moving service held at Sunderland Crematorium.
Mourners dressed in Sunderland football shirts in tribute to Gavin, who was an avid supporter of Sunderland AFC. The club's badge was also printed onto his white coffin, which arrived at the service in a horse-drawn carriage, pulled by four white horses wearing red and white feather headdresses.
During the service, family members also laid red and white roses on his coffin, while 'Always Remember Us This Way', by Lady Gaga played in the crematorium.
A keen sportsman himself, Gavin also played as goalkeeper for Sunderland Hendon FC. Following his passing, the team paid tribute to Gavin on social media. The club said: "A great goalkeeper and an even better bloke. Taken away from us far too soon. RIP Gav."
Gavin was diagnosed with a sarcoma in his left leg four years ago but after going through chemotherapy he was given the all-clear. But in December 2021, he began suffering from what he believed was sciatica pain in his right leg.
In January, he went to the doctors as he was still experiencing pain and a number of scans sadly revealed that the cancer had returned with a vengeance. Gavin was told that he had cancer in his right leg and that it was pressing against his sciatica nerves which was causing the pain.
He was later told that the cancer was terminal after learning that it had spread to his pelvis, as well as his right leg, lung, bowel, liver and spleen.
Today mourners heard that after learning that his cancer was terminal, Gavin had decided not to tell people. But family later discovered the heart-breaking news.
After learning of his diagnosis, Gavin and his partner Caroline vowed to make the most of the little time they had left. They married at their Silksworth home by Gavin's bedside on August 19, surrounded by their loved ones.
Speaking during Gavin's funeral service today, tearful Caroline talked about how Gavin had been taken too soon, adding that she had been left with Gavin's surname and memories of the two years they had spent together. She concluded her speech in his memory with the moving words: "It's not goodbye, it's see you later."
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