Family, fans bid final farewell to Polish singer

The ceremony was preceded by a mass in the city’s St Mary’s Church, attended by a crowd of friends and fans.

In keeping with the family’s wishes, there were no speeches, and those attending the funeral were asked to make donations to a children’s hospice instead of bringing flowers or wreaths.

President Andrzej Duda, in a letter read out in church by a senior official from his office, described Wodecki’s death as a profound loss to Polish culture.

Duda wrote that throughout his life, Wodecki “invited us to the world of his unique sound, with his wonderful, recognizable voice and extraordinary talent.”

In a homily interspersed with lines from Wodecki’s hits, the officiating priest said that the singer’s life was a fulfilment of a mission to serve others.

“He had in him that God’s spark which forced him to remain open to other people,” the priest said.

Wodecki, who was also a composer, arranger, violinist and trumpeter, had many hits. He enjoyed enormous popularity with fans spanning several generations. He died in a Warsaw hospital a week ago as a result of a stroke.

(mk/pk)