Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh singer behind the 1983 hit “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” will be honored with a celebration of life service at Swansea Minster, St. Mary’s Church, on Monday, August 17, at noon BST, according to funeral arrangements announced by William Pressdee Funeralcare.
Members of the public have been invited to line Newton Road in Mumbles on Saturday, August 15, from 3:15 p.m. BST as Tyler’s coffin is brought to her home at 3:30 p.m. BST. Following the Swansea service, a procession will travel through Skewen, Neath Port Talbot—the village where Tyler grew up—at approximately 1:20 p.m. BST before a private family service.
Tyler, born Gaynor Hopkins, died July 8 at age 75 in a hospital in Portugal, where she had been receiving treatment for an ongoing illness. Her family said she “unexpectedly passed away” as a result of the illness for which she was being treated.
Across a career spanning more than five decades, Tyler released 18 studio albums and became known for her distinctive smoky voice. “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” written and produced by Jim Steinman, topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks in 1983. Other signature hits include “It’s a Heartache” and “Holding Out for a Hero,” which appeared on the Footloose soundtrack. Tyler represented the United Kingdom at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest with “Believe in Me” and was made an MBE in 2023 for services to music.
The family has requested family flowers only. Those wishing to honor Tyler’s memory have been asked to donate to Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales and Cerebral Palsy Cymru, two charities for which she served as patron.
Source: Billboard
