The funeral of famous Greek singer-songwriter Antonis Vardis will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Nativity of Christ Church followed by his burial at Paiania Cemetary.

The deceased artist, who lost his battle with cancer on Tuesday, had expressed the wish that people give money to charity instead of buying funeral wreaths. A relevant message was issued on his official Facebook page:

The funeral procession will take place at the Holy Church of the Nativity of Christ, in Paiania, on Thursday 4/9/14 at 11 a.m. The burial is to take place at Paiania Cemetary.
Everyone who loved Antonis will be there, as Antonis would have wanted.
Furthermore, it is Antonis wish for there to be no wreaths or flowers. He had said: “instead of throwing away the money, I want a plate of food to be given to someone in need.”

We suggest that donations instead of wreaths to be offered:
1. To the homeless and poor and needy in your area.
2. The Social Kitchen “O Allos Anthropos” (The Other Human). The unemployed founder, creator and chief of this group is Konstandinos Polychronopoulos http://www.queen.gr/CELEBRITY-SPOTTING/SYNENTEYXEIS/item/73986-konstantinos-polyhronopoylos-synenteyxi-me-ton-anergo-poy-taizei-3000-synanthropoys-mas
3. Medicine to the Metropolitan Community Clinic at Helliniko http://www.mkiellinikou.org/

Erroneous press reports of a service at 11 a.m. on Wednesday resulted in many friends and fans of Vardis heading to Paiania, including famous local singers George Margaritis and famous veteran singer Katie Gray.