LIVE UPDATES: Funeral Services For Slain Chicago Police Officer Ella French
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Mourners are paying their final respects Thursday to slain Chicago Police Officer Ella French, 29, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop in West Englewood on Aug. 7.
You can watch the funeral service live in the video player above.
LIVE UPDATES:
1 p.m.
The hearse, escorted by a group of four police motorcycles, was beginning to make its way to the processional route to the crematorium.
12:40 p.m.
Police officers stood at attention on the chapel driveway, saluting the motorcade as the hearse and other cars prepared to leave for the crematorium in South Holland.
12:30 p.m.
Bagpipes played "Amazing Grace" as Cardinal Blase Cupich led pallbearers out of the chapel, as they carried Officer French's casket, draped in a City of Chicago flag.
After a rendition of "Coming Home" by the Chicago Police Department Pipes & Drums, and a 21-gun salute, an honor guard folded the Chicago flag and presented it to Supt. David Brown, who then handed it to French's mother.
12:10 p.m.
Hundreds of officers lined the driveway outside the chapel after the funeral, waiting for Officer French's casket to be brought out to a hearse for a motorcade procession along the Dan Ryan Expressway and Bishop Ford Freeway to a crematorium in South Holland.
Officers from police departments and law enforcement agencies from across the country are expected to meet the motorcade in South Holland to salute Officer French.
11:53 a.m.
Officer Frenchs' godfather, David Tinberg, who has known her since she was a toddler who attended his wife's daycare center, said he'll always know her as "Ella Grace."
He remembered her as a brave child who faced her fears and overcame them, and as a girl who played well and easily made friends with other children, but also as someone who was "headstrong, defiant, and a pain in the rear."
Above all, Tinberg said Officer French was determined to make a difference in the world as a police officer.
"Ella Grace was compassionate Ella Grace was caring," he said. "She was fierce and fearless. She was a force to be reckoned with."
Cardinal Blase Cupich closed out the funeral with a final farewell to Officer French.
"We take comfort in the hope that one day we shall see Ella again and enjoy her love and friendship," he said.
11:43 a.m.
Officer Joshua Blas, one of Officer French's partners, who shot the man accused of fatally shooting her, recalled her love of animals, especially dogs, telling mourners how she would yell out while they were on patrol together if she would see a stray dog so they could take it to a shelter.
"I do miss her and I will always miss her," he added. "Ella, you're a great police officer, friend, and partner. Thank you for all the great memories. I miss you."
Former Officer Carlos Yanez Sr., the father of Officer French's wounded partner, Officer Carlos Yanez Jr., said his son is normally "the happiest guy in the world," but said he'd never seen his son so sad as when he learned his partner had died.
11:35 a.m.
Two officers escorted Officer French's mother, Elizabeth, to the lectern.
"Today I am here with half my heart. Ella was an amazing woman," she said, noting Ella was one of her two children.
French's mother recalled helping Ella with a school project by writing a letter to her about the day Catholic Charities brought her home when she was eight months old.
"Please know that adopting you was one of the best things I ever did in my life," she said.
She also read the poem "The Dash" by Linda Ellis, and thanked her daughter's fellow officers for their support.
"Ella and I thank you for your service. God bless you all," she said.
She also shared the message she gave to Ella every day she went to work: "Be careful and be safe."
11:20 a.m.
After presenting gifts to Officer French's family, and preparing the Eucharist, Cardinal Blase Cupich led the reading of the Lord's Prayer.
A singer performed the hymn "You Are Mine" as mourners took part in communion.
Meantime, a handful of people in the crowd gathered outside the chapel have fainted or otherwise become ill from the heat and humidity, while standing in the direct sunlight on a hot and muggy day.
Fire Department officials dispatched several ambulances to the chapel, taking five officers and one teen to hospitals to be treated for heat exhaustion. Officers are wearing dark blue dress uniforms, and in many cases bulletproof vests, which make for multiple heavy layers as they stand out in the heat to mourn Officer French.
The Fire Department also delivered pallets of water donated by Home Depot to the crowd outside the funeral.
11:00 a.m.
"No matter where we live in this city, we should know the names and pray for all of the victims of violence as we would a member of our family, for we are all brothers and sisters. We each need to do our part to help law enforcement as they work to hold people accountable for their actions," Cardinal Blase Cupich said in his homily.
10:55 a.m.
Cardinal Cupich recalled speaking with Officer French's mother, Elizabeth, about how Ella's experience as a police officer, and previously as a Cook County corrections officer, helped shape her life.
"Ella always understood herself as a work in progress, how her experience, especially as a corrections officer for Cook County made her a better human being," he said.
10:50 a.m.
Saying "the city embraces you," Cardinal Blase Cupich told French's fellow officers, "we can only imagine how the tragic death of another colleague in the line of death impacts you as you take up the daunting challenge of providing security and peace on the streets."
"Grieving needs its own time, for grieving puts us in touch with the truth about our lives that we are poor vulnerable creatures," he said.
Cupich also asked for prayers for French's partner, Officer Carlos Yanez, who was seriously wounded in the same shooting that killed Officer French, and remains hospitalized.
10:38 a.m.
Officer French's brother, Andrew, read from Romans 15. Andrew has said his sister "loved hard and she love this city."
"She loved everything about it except for the nasty parts that we all know. And she made a point of becoming a police officer to try and change those things," Andrew French said at a vigil for his sister Tuesday night.
During the funeral, a pastor also read from the gospel of John, telling the story of the death of Lazarus, and his resurrection at the hands of Jesus.
10:35 a.m.
Two children, Amber and Sol, whose father and brothers are Chicago Police officers, were at the funeral.
"I hope one day they will grow up and see Officer French as a hero."
10:10 a.m.
A singer performed "Here I Am Lord" as mourners began to file into the chapel, while Officer French's casket sat in front of the altar.
Former Mayor Richard M. Daley joined Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Police Supt. David Brown in the front row of the chapel, across the aisle from Officer French's family.
10 a.m.
Former Chicago Police Supt. Phil Cline and former Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy were among the crowd waiting outside the chapel, among a sea of police officers.
9:55 a.m.
Based on the program for the funeral, Cardinal Blase Cupich will deliver the homily.
Bagpipers played "Going Home" outside the chapel as the procession began, and an honor guard arrived to carry Officer French's casket inside.
9:50 a.m.
Hundreds of police vehicles, both from the Chicago Police Department, and from as far away as Sioux Falls, South Dakota, lined the streets outside the chapel.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th) were among the elected officials in attendance at the funeral.
9:40 a.m.
Two Chicago Fire Department trucks hang an American Flag over the street outside St. Rita chapel, as hundreds of Chicago Police officers and officers from other law enforcement agencies gather on the lawns ahead of Officer French's funeral.
8:40 a.m.
Chicago Police share a photo of Officer French's casket, draped in the City of Chicago flag, resting inside the St. Rita chapel, flanked by photographs of the slain officer.
7:40 a.m.
Hundreds of Chicago Police officers wearing their dress uniforms lined the sidewalk outside St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel ahead of Officer French's funeral service at 10 a.m.
