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Marie Nilsson Lind will be buried on Friday.

Photo: FREDRIK DÖLLING / JUBEL

Marie passed away at the beginning of January.

Photo: SVEN LINDWALL

Provost Anna Lundgren.

Photo: SVEN LINDWALL

The flag outside the church is at half mast.

Photo: SVEN LINDWALL

On the black coffin is a large bouquet of red roses and in front of it is a heart of flowers.

Today, those who were closest to the artist Marie Nilsson Lind are gathering – to say goodbye for the last time.

Around 250 guests have signed up for the ceremony, which contains a lot of music and singing.

The church is decorated with red flowers and next to the coffin is a picture of Marie.

Photo: SVEN LINDWALL

The funeral is held in Visby Cathedral.

Photo: SVEN LINDWALL

“A heavy day”

Now the city is in mourning.

– Many are affected, and it shows. It’s nice to be part of a person’s farewell in this way, says cantor Alma Hedlund Emilsson before the funeral.

When the guests start arriving, Tommy Wahlgren, Gotland profile and former press manager at Svenska Spel, is one of them.

– It is clear that today is a difficult day, not only for us who knew Marie, but for all of Gotland. The Gotland soul is losing a friend, he says.

Benny Andersson and Babben Larsson are also there – they were both close friends with Marie Nilsson Lind.

The artist’s own voice was heard

When the funeral begins, Visby Cathedral is full.

At the front of the church sit Annelie Roswall and Bittis Jakobsson from Ainbusk together with their families.

During the ceremony, Marie Nilsson Lind’s own voice suddenly starts to sound out of the speakers with the song “Calling Heaven” which she did in “So much better”, an interpretation of Daniel Adams-Ray and Tim “Avicii” Bergling’s original.

It becomes emotional for the guests and several fall into tears.

In her version of the song, Marie Nilsson Lind paid tribute to several of the artists who are no longer alive.

– There is probably a fantastic orchestra in heaven and I want to try to say that in this song, said the artist when she appeared on television and then continued:

– Where do all souls go after they are no longer in life?

Cantor Alma Hedlund Emilsson has put together a choir with Gotland women of various ages. They sang, among other things, “älska mig” by Ainbusk, “Gunatt siv gutt” and also “Ändlaus veisu” written by Marie’s father Allan Nilsson.

– The last song will be “Gunatt siv gutt” as a last song for Marie.

Marie Nilsson Lind started the group Ainbusk singers together with childhood friends Annelie Roswall, Bittis Jakobsson and sister Josefin Nilsson in 1983. The songs “Love me” and “Lassie”, which were written in collaboration with Benny Andersson, are some of the group’s big hits.

Annelie Roswall and Bittis Jakobsson from Ainbusk and Benny Andersson arrived with the immediate family.

Photo: SVEN LINDWALL

Olle Sarri is also on site in Visby.

Photo: SVEN LINDWALL

There are flowers around the coffin.

Photo: SVEN LINDWALL

READ MORE: Malena Ernman and Viktoria Tolstoy play at a memorial concert for Marie Nilsson LindREAD MORE: Marie Nilsson Lind was honored with carillons in Visby Cathedral