'Queen of the Gypsies' caravans and possessions torched
Hundreds of mourners travelled to Wales to pay tribute to “Queen of the Gypsies” by setting her caravan alight the day after her funeral.
Ruby Pearl Marshall had 52 grandchildren and was given the name “Queen of the Gypsies” by her family, Wales Online reports.
The beloved gypsy died at the age of 78 on May 12 following heart and kidney problems.
Her funeral was held at St Tydfil’s Old Parish Church in Merthyr and she was buried at Glyntaff Cemetery in Pontypridd.
The day after her funeral, family and friends paid tribute to her life and torched her four caravans - along with the majority of possessions - at the entrance of her caravan site.
In the video, flames can be seen stretching through the air as smoke billows to the sky during the gypsy queen's honouring.
According to reports, the flaming tribute is a centuries old traveller's tradition and each family member keeps one item from her caravans in remembrance.
Ruby’s son, Mario Marshall told Mirror UK: “After someone dies no one touches their property except for each family member choosing one thing to remember them by."
He said it is "about respect" and all belongings are burned to the ground so people don't look what's in there.
Mr Marshall also said each of his mother's four caravans had a purpose, one was for belongings, one for her china, one was used for storage and the last one was to live in.
“We all offered her to stay with us but she never wanted to leave the site," he said.
At Ruby's funeral, limousines, horse-drawn carriages, police escorts and floral tributes - worth over AUD$32,000 - were used to say goodbye to the gypsy.
Over 60 wreaths were made into shapes of Ruby’s favourite things - some including a caravan and a television, puppies, and soap - and were transported to the funeral on eight seperate wagons.
The hundreds of mourners who travelled from the UK to be at the funeral even wore pink and white clothing because they known to be were her favourite colours.
