Mourners dressed as Harry Potter characters turned out in their droves for the funeral of mega-fan Veronica Leaning. The 78-year-old passed away on September 17, leaving daughters Susan, Angela, Michelle, Tracy and Beverley, step-children Chris, Terry and Toni, along with 21 grand-children and 30 great grandchildren.
Known affectionately as 'the crazy ginger lady', Veronica had been a huge character in the town, known for her kindness, compassion and warm hearted nature, who would treat anyone that she met like they were part of her own family.
Before her death from lung and bone cancer, Veronica had requested that her family dress in full Harry Potter attire for her funeral with a special themed coffin made especially for the occasion, the Grimsby Telegraph reports. Family members were dressed in the colours of Gryffindor House, while close friends and neighbours came dressed as some of Veronica's favourite characters from author JK Rowling's films and books including Professor Sprout, Professor Dumbledore and Moaning Myrtle. Veronica had met JK Rowling a number of times. The service was led by Nick Oldfield, with Veronica brought into the Crematorium to the Hedwig's Theme from the Harry Potter films.
Throughout the service touching tributes were paid to the beloved mother, with her brother Tony Davis calling her "one of the good'uns."
Bread's ‘Everything I Own’ was also played. Veronica had always wanted the funeral to be a celebration of her life, as opposed to a sad affair, and following the commencement of the service, mourners were led out of the Crematorium to the sound of Monty Python's ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’. Mirror
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