BBC star Janey Godley's funeral to include a two-day 'final tour' after tragic cancer death
The funeral of beloved Scottish comedian Janey Godley is set to take place on Saturday 30 November, as part of a two-day "final tour" of the cities she adored, according to her daughter. Janey sadly passed away on 2 November at the age of 63, after receiving palliative care for terminal cancer. In a heartfelt social media post, her daughter Ashley Storrie revealed that the hearse will journey through Edinburgh, her "beloved festival home", on Friday 29 November before heading "home to Glasgow". The funeral service will be held at St Mary’s Cathedral in the West End on Saturday 30 November.
Janey, who gained viral fame with her hilarious dubbed parodies of then Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon’s coronavirus news briefings during the pandemic, announced she had ovarian cancer in November 2021. In the touching social media post, her daughter shared: "Here’s the details of Janey’s final tour, thank you for all the love and kindness in this past week."
"For the past few years of Ma’s life, it was important to her that she shared her journey with everyone, to offer support for others on the same path and to highlight the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer – all of course in her very singular Janey style, with laughter and candour. So many of you who have travelled with us on this journey wish to bid her a final farewell, so here’s the details of my mum’s final tour, in the two cities she loved with all her heart."
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The hearse will journey along the Royal Mile and Lawnmarket in Edinburgh, pausing for a moment of reflection at St Giles’ Cathedral before continuing along Cockburn Street, Market Street and heading to Glasgow. Following Saturday's funeral, there will be a private service at the crematorium.
Ashley shared that her mother requested attendees to wear bright colours instead of traditional funeral attire to celebrate her life. She also asked for no flowers but encouraged donations to the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice or a charity of choice. She also said: "Thanks again everyone for all the love and support," adding it "does help so much".
Despite her 2021 diagnosis, Janey Godley resumed touring. The comedian was declared cancer-free in 2022, but later that year, another scan revealed signs of the disease in her abdomen. Nevertheless, she continued with her Not Dead Yet gigs.
In 2023, she received the inaugural Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival. This September, she cancelled her autumn tour after her stage four ovarian cancer, which had been managed through NHS treatment over the years, returned with added complications.
She passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones at the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow on 2 November, as confirmed by her management company last weekend.
