NHL's Gordie Howe Laid To Rest

On a gray, overcast day in Hockeytown, friends, family and hockey royalty gathered at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament for the funeral of Gordie Howe, who died Friday at the age of 88.

One by one they filed into the majestic church, including Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky, Guy Lafleur, Scotty Bowman, Johnny Bower, Glen Sather and Chris Chelios along with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

A bus dropped off a large group of Detroit Red Wings, current and retired -- from 19-year-old Dylan Larkin to four-time Stanley Cup winner Darren McCarty.

Afterward, Mark Howe said the funeral provided the family with strength during a difficult several days following the death of his father.

"We know what an absolute treasure of a human being my father was," he said. "We're trying to celebrate his life. That's hard for me right now. He's a role model of everything I try to be as a human being. Unfortunately, I can't keep up with those standards, but I try. We're grateful to have so many wonderful years."

Gretzky, stopping to share his thoughts after the funeral, said every story he ever heard about Howe was positive. He'll remember most the way he treated people and the way he made everyone laugh.

"Athletes today are getting bigger and better, but what you don't replace is their personalities," Gretzky said. "My gosh, the world today isn't as good a place as it was when we had Gordie."

Howe set NHL records with 801 goals and 1,850 points -- mostly with the Red Wings -- that stood until Gretzky came along. Howe also won four Stanley Cups with Detroit, and those banners flanked his casket during the visitation Tuesday on the floor of the arena.