Darth Vader Leads a Grandmother’s Funeral

Credit: Sam Howzit

Lorna Johnson’s funeral was a scene straight out of a movie. Literally.

The 56-year-old’s memorial was attended by witches, Beetlejuice, the Tasmanian Devil and Darth Vader. The latter Star Wars character even led the funeral procession, which included an extravagant hearse, on a slow march to the crematorium in Luton.

Johnson died last month after a long battle with lung cancer. She is survived by four children and 10 grandchildren. Her family described her as a fun-loving person who was always up for a good party. They wanted her funeral to reflect her personality, and her love for Halloween.

According to her children, Johnson called herself a “white witch,” and she specialized in tarot card readings. Her son, Neil Johnson, came up with the idea of a costume-themed celebration of his mother’s life to honor her as she was when she was alive, fun and unique.

He told The Guardian:

“My mum’s always said you need to celebrate, you need to have a party. So we’re not going to sit around feeling sorry for ourselves. My mum wouldn’t want that.”

Mourners wore pointed witch hats at her memorial as Dolly Parton’s music streamed through speakers at the service. Her son dressed as the Tasmanian Devil, while funeral director Brett Houghton led the group in a Darth Vader costume, complete with his signature mask and cape.

More families are choosing to throw away old funeral traditions in favor of memorials with stronger personalities.

Credit: Loren Javier

Johnson’s funeral is part of a growing trend. More families are choosing to throw away old funeral traditions in favor of memorials with stronger personalities. In the past, it was seen as downright disrespectful in the Western world to treat a funeral as anything other than a somber time of reflection. Traditional Western funerals saw people dressing in all black. One would witness a eulogy (usually given by a church official) in silence, followed by a sobering trip to the burial plot, then finally to someone’s home to give their condolences to the family. Now, however, families are seeking a time of not only reflection but of celebration for a life well-lived. They want the personalities of their loved ones to shine through in a big way.

Yet, such celebration after death isn’t always possible for every family. For those who have lost someone suddenly, or who are still in turmoil, the idea of celebration seems incongruous, even ludicrous. Funerals like Lorna Johnson’s simply show families that they have other options when it comes to remembering their loved ones; her memorial proves that not every funeral needs to be depressing.

Fun and funerals don’t exactly go together, but in some cases, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t. People who were full of joy and a slick sense of humor aren’t always best-remembered in solemn silence. Sometimes, the best way to cope with the seriousness of death is to poke a little fun at it.