In a heartwarming tale of generosity and selflessness, an Oklahoma teen had her life changed after winning a car at a funeral, fulfilling the final wish of a woman she had never met. Gabriella Bonham, 16, of El Reno, Oklahoma, expressed her gratitude for the unexpected gift, saying, "I'm very grateful for this. Every person that I've told about it has said, 'Oh my gosh. That's what I should do whenever I pass away.' Or, 'I should do something like that at my funeral.' I think that it's really cool to see something good happen and the effect that it makes on other people who weren't directly involved in it. Just people want to do good things. It's amazing."

The woman behind this extraordinary act of kindness was Diane Sweeney, an Oklahoma City resident who passed away suddenly on July 7, 2022. Prior to her death, Sweeney had expressed her desire to gift her prized possession, a 2016 Volkswagen Beetle, to someone attending her funeral. Her nephew, Rick Ingram, recalled her wish, saying, "She always had a giving spirit. She told a few of us her wish. I remember it clear as day. She said, 'Whoever comes to my funeral, I want them to have a chance to win my Volkswagen Beetle.' And I said, 'Oh, Diane, I'll make that happen.'"

Sweeney, who had a successful career in biostatistics for a pharmaceutical company on the East coast, decided to lead a simple life in Oklahoma after retiring. Ingram described her values, saying, "She valued a peaceful life. She could have lived anywhere and driven any vehicle. And what she cared about was her Christian faith, her family, and her Volkswagen Beetle. She also loved Sonic and Burger King."

To fulfill Sweeney's final wish, Ingram and his cousin, Suzanne Singleterry, reached out to local news outlets to spread the word. "We put it in the local paper," Ingram explained. "That her wish is that whoever comes to the funeral - and she didn't care if they knew her or not, or their age, race - would have a chance to win her car. Channel 4 picked it up and asked if they could do a news story [about it]. I said, 'Absolutely. It'll pack the funeral home' - which it did."

Among those who attended the funeral was Gabriella Bonham, who initially saw the news about the raffle on TV and thought it would be a fun adventure. Little did she know that it would turn into a deeply meaningful experience. Bonham learned about Sweeney's life and kindness through her family's eyes, saying, "It was very interesting not to know her and to see her life through her family's eyes. They put together the slideshows and everything, so it was just interesting to feel like you knew someone that you had never met before. They said that she was a very funny and fun person to be around and that she loved her family and church. It definitely seemed like she was a generous person."

Bonham filled out her raffle ticket and went about her life, not hearing anything for over a year. However, on September 15, 2023, she received an unexpected phone call that would change her life. Bonham, who had been experiencing issues with her current car, was chosen as the winner of Sweeney's Volkswagen Beetle. Overwhelmed with shock and gratitude, Bonham said, "I wasn't expecting it at all. I was just in a hotel room with my family because we were currently on a trip. They just told me, and I was standing in the middle of the room, just so shocked. My parents were trying to guess what it was. They were like, 'What happened? Are you OK? Who is it?' After I got off the phone, we all got excited and called all of our family members who knew that I went to the funeral."

Ingram, who made the call to Bonham, expressed his joy in witnessing her excitement and the fulfillment of his aunt's wish. "The perfect winner was drawn," Ingram said. "She was ecstatic and very grateful. I had a divine feeling from the start [that] this wish would be seen through one way or another - a young girl starting her life as Diane's was ending. It worked out perfectly."

A few days later, Bonham made the trip to Oklahoma City to claim her prize. Despite feeling nervous, she was filled with awe and excitement, saying, "I was trying not to freak out because it was just so cool. It was a lot of pressure, driving away in front of everybody. I was kind of nervous. So I was just thinking 'Don't do anything stupid. You know how to drive. Don't worry about it, just drive away.'"

Ingram expressed his gratitude for the impact of his aunt's life, stating, "Diane would have been thrilled with everyone that attended the funeral. She was always thinking of others, even after her death, which is one of her many legacies. And now [Gabriella] starts her life in the spirit of Diane."

This heartwarming story highlights the power of selflessness and the profound impact one person can have on the lives of others. Diane Sweeney's final wish brought joy and gratitude to a young girl who never expected such a life-changing gift. As the memory of this extraordinary act of kindness continues to resonate, it serves as a reminder of the importance of compassion and generosity in our own lives.