Spanish actress Paula Echevarría has shared an emotional tribute video on social media after the death of her father, Luis Ángel, who died on Friday at age 76 in Gijón.
The loss has been hard for Echevarría and the rest of her family, who gathered at the parish church of San Félix de Candás to say a final farewell to a man who always described himself as his daughter's biggest admirer.
Images from the service showed Echevarría devastated, but focused entirely on supporting and comforting her mother, Elena Colodrón, who was also deeply affected by the death of her husband of more than 50 years.
A day after the farewell, Echevarría found the strength to share her first public words about her father's death. She posted an emotional video showing the two of them dancing together to "Después de Ti... Qué?", a ballad by Raúl di Blasio.
In the message accompanying the video, Echevarría asked what life could hold after him. She said her heart was broken and that she would try to piece it back together, fragment by fragment, but that she knew it would never be the same as it had been, because he was no longer there.
Despite the painful absence, Echevarría said she was certain that in some way she would always remain bound to her father. She said she would think of him every day of her life, would speak to him, and would ask him to hold her up and never let go. She signed the message with a personal pet name.
By her mother's side
Despite her own grief, Echevarría has made clear that her priority now is to be by her mother's side, as she showed throughout the farewell service. Visibly emotional and with her strength depleted, she stayed close to Colodrón for the entire ceremony and did not leave her side.
Colodrón was left widowed after more than 50 years of shared life with a man described by all who knew him as extraordinary, a deeply warm person who offered only love to those fortunate enough to be in his closest circle.
Luis Ángel is survived by two children, Paula and her brother Luis, and by four grandchildren. Those close to the family say the role of grandfather may have been the greatest life had to offer him.
The family is now mourning in private, remembering him as the great man he was and counting themselves fortunate to have had him in their lives.
