At a funeral service attended by family, fans, and some of hockey's most distinguished names, the late Gordie Howe was honored by son Murray Howe in a near half-hour eulogy.
"I asked my dad a few years ago what he would like me to say at his funeral," Murray said Wednesday at the packed Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.
"He said, 'Say this: Finally, the end of the third period.' Then he added, 'I hope there is a good hockey team in heaven.'"
"Dad," Murray continued. "All I can say is, once you join the team, they won't just be good, they will be great."
Murray then offered several superlatives to describe his father, who passed away on June 10 at age 88, describing him as humble, tough, wise, graceful, powerful, prompt, eternally positive, patient, accepting, and selfless.
"We filled his final days, surrounding him with friends and family, and he knew he was loved," Murray said near the end of his eulogy. "Mr. Hockey left the world with no regrets. And although he did not lead the league in church attendance, his life has been the epitome of a faithful servant."
The full eulogy can be viewed here:
(Courtesy: NHL.com)
