Monday, December 9, 2024

Janey Godley is laid to rest with Nicola Sturgeon among the mourners as comedian’s daughter tells funeral she can’t do any of her mother’s jokes because she is in ‘a house of God’

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The funeral of comedian Janey Godley has taken place in Glasgow, with former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon among the mourners.

The service was held at St Mary’s Cathedral in Glasgow today, and mourners could be seen wearing an array of colourful outfits, at Godley’s request.

Godley died at the age of 63 in November after receiving palliative treatment for terminal cancer.

The comedian achieved viral fame by creating voiceover parodies of Ms Sturgeon’s coronavirus news briefings during the pandemic, and they became friends.

Opening the service, the vicar said she would be remembered with ‘kindness and with love’ and added that ‘forgiveness’ would be among the themes of the service.

Godley’s daughter Ashley Storrie spoke at the funeral, saying she would not be able to do any of her mother’s jokes as she was in ‘a house of god’.

Storrie, 38, a comedian and radio presenter, said: ‘My mum is very grateful to all of you who came out yesterday to Edinburgh and lined the Royal Mile and lifted your voices and song, and the people who’ve come today to remember her in the best way possible.

‘My mum was very much a daughter of Glasgow, she loved her city dearly, it was her favourite place in the whole wide world.

The coffin of Scottish comedian Janey Godley is carried out of St Mary’s Cathedral in Glasgow following her funeral

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon is seen leaving following the funeral of the comedian

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon is seen leaving following the funeral of the comedian

A group of queer and trans nuns could be seen paying their respects to the comedian

A group of queer and trans nuns could be seen paying their respects to the comedian

Janey Godley (pictured) passed away on November 2 following a battle with ovarian cancer

Janey Godley (pictured) passed away on November 2 following a battle with ovarian cancer 

‘The emblem of Glasgow is the tree that never grew, and the bell that never rang, and the bird that never flew, and the fish that never swam, and I think she took that as a challenge.’

Gavin Mitchell, who played Bobby the barman in BBC sitcom Still Game, was also among the mourners on a dry but overcast day in Glasgow. 

A group of queer and trans nuns from the Sisters of perpetual Indulgence could also be seen paying their respects to the comedian.

The funeral is being held on the same day as a memorial service for former first minister and SNP leader Alex Salmond, at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh.

Yesterday, mourners lined the cobbled streets of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile today to bid farewell to Janey Godley after her death.

Grieving fans packed out the Royal Mile as the star’s hearse travelled through Edinburgh on its way to her funeral service.

Fans looked sorrowful as they said their final goodbyes to the entertainer, while others celebrated her life by wearing T-shirts referencing her comedic work.

In a post on social media, Godley’s daughter Ashley Storrie explained her mother’s hearse would pass through Edinburgh – her ‘beloved Festival home’ – before travelling ‘home to Glasgow’ today.

Godley found viral fame with her dubbed pastiches of Nicola Sturgeon's coronavirus news briefings as well as other comic voiceovers during the pandemic

Godley found viral fame with her dubbed pastiches of Nicola Sturgeon’s coronavirus news briefings as well as other comic voiceovers during the pandemic

Mourners pictured outside of St Mary's Cathedral in Glasgow after the funeral

Mourners pictured outside of St Mary’s Cathedral in Glasgow after the funeral

Godley found viral fame with her dubbed pastiches of Sturgeon's coronavirus news briefings

Godley found viral fame with her dubbed pastiches of Sturgeon’s coronavirus news briefings

A mourner holds the order of service for the funeral of Godley

A mourner holds the order of service for the funeral of Godley

The coffin of the Scottish comedian is carried out of the church. On the side of the hearse, her signature catchphrase 'Frank, Get The Door!' can be seen

The coffin of the Scottish comedian is carried out of the church. On the side of the hearse, her signature catchphrase ‘Frank, Get The Door!’ can be seen

Ashley Storrie (centre) is pictured in tears following the funeral of her mother

Ashley Storrie (centre) is pictured in tears following the funeral of her mother

In a statement following her passing, Chris Davis Management said: ‘It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our client doctor Janey Godley on November 2.

‘Janey died peacefully in the wonderful Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow surrounded by her loved ones. She will be hugely missed by her family, friends and her many fans.

‘She will be remembered for her legendary voiceovers of Nicola Sturgeon during the pandemic, her hilarious and outspoken comedy, but most of all for just being Janey.’

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, her daughter Ashley shared a heartfelt video telling fans of her mother’s death.

‘My mum Janey Godley died this morning at about 7. She was with friends and family and I wanted to tell you face to face because it felt very much what she would have wanted,’ she said.

‘She went peacefully and I want to say a big thank you to all the staff at the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice and a big thank you to mum’s found family who were around her through these last horrible days.

People lined the streets yesterday as Godley's hearse travelled through Edinburgh on its way to her funeral service in Glasgow

People lined the streets yesterday as Godley’s hearse travelled through Edinburgh on its way to her funeral service in Glasgow 

Ashley Storrie, daughter of Scottish comedian Janey Godley, watched as the hearse carrying her mother travelled through Edinburgh

Ashley Storrie, daughter of Scottish comedian Janey Godley, watched as the hearse carrying her mother travelled through Edinburgh

Godley's daughter Ashley grieves as the hearse carrying her mother travelled through Edinburgh

Godley’s daughter Ashley grieves as the hearse carrying her mother travelled through Edinburgh

Comedian Godley's hearse was adorned with photos and flowers

Comedian Godley’s hearse was adorned with photos and flowers 

People wearing T-shirts featuring the catch-phrase 'Frank Get The Door!' line the streets yesterday

People wearing T-shirts featuring the catch-phrase ‘Frank Get The Door!’ line the streets yesterday

In a post on social media, Godley's daughter Ashley said her mother's hearse would travel through Edinburgh - her 'beloved Festival home' - today before travelling 'home to Glasgow'

In a post on social media, Godley’s daughter Ashley said her mother’s hearse would travel through Edinburgh – her ‘beloved Festival home’ – today before travelling ‘home to Glasgow’ 

Members of the public followed the hearse carrying Godley as it made it's way down Cockburn Street

Members of the public followed the hearse carrying Godley as it made it’s way down Cockburn Street

People looked visibly emotional as Godley's hearse passed through Edinburgh ahead of her funeral

People looked visibly emotional as Godley’s hearse passed through Edinburgh ahead of her funeral 

‘I want to thank all of you for your kindness and your support. I believe in my heart of hearts that she felt every bit of love you sent to her. I think it kept her going. We got her longer because of all the support and love.’ She ended the video with a tearful sign off of ‘bye ma’.

Godley, who found viral fame with her dubbed pastiches of Sturgeon’s coronavirus news briefings as well as other comic voiceovers during the pandemic, revealed she had ovarian cancer in November 2021.

In 2022 the comedian was given the all-clear and said in a post to X that a scan showed ‘no evidence of disease’.

However, she later announced that another scan had shown signs of the disease in her abdomen but added that she would continue touring.

But the gigs were cancelled in September of this year after she was treated in hospital for sepsis before learning her cancer had returned with added complications.

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