Father Kevin McCray, associate pastor of Queen of Martyrs, stands with firefighters to watch as the funeral procession turns at 103rd and Central Park. (Karen Callaway/Catholic New World)
Daniel Capuano was a devoted husband and father of three, an active parishioner at Queen of Martyrs in Evergreen Park, a veteran of the Chicago Fire Department and an all-around good man. That’s what members of his parish said Dec. 18, the day Capuano was laid to rest after he was killed fighting a fire earlier in the week. Students from Queen of Martyrs School — where Capuano’s two sons attend classes — parishioners, neighbors, police and fellow firefighters lined 103rd Street and Central Park Avenue outside the church to greet the long procession carrying his body to its final resting place in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Bundled up against the cold and holding American flags and a sign that said “God bless our neighbor,” the students were somber and quiet watching the procession of police, fire and emergency vehicles. Earlier, Father Edward Mikolajczyk, pastor of Queen of Martyrs, celebrated Capuano’s funeral Mass at St. Rita High School Chapel along with other priests, including Augustinian Father Tom McCarthy and Chicago Fire Chaplain Father Tom Mulcrone. A busload of seventh- and eighth-graders from Queen of Martyrs attended Capuano’s wake Dec. 17. Archbishop Cupich also attended the wake service. The week before Capuano’s death the father of another student died. Because of this, the school brought in psychology externs to help the students work through the tragedies. The parish held a prayer service for both men on Dec. 14. Both at the funeral and the parish, Capuano was remembered as positive influence. “He was a wonderful man and father. Whenever he was helping out here volunteering he had a smile on his face and would be kidding around,” said Bernadine Smiercek, director of religious education at Queen of Martyrs. “He’d be the first to offer to shovel the snow.” The students have rallied around each other these past few weeks. “We’re very proud of our students. They come through and support one another,” Smiercek said. Queen of Martyrs principal Kathleen Tomaszewski grew up with Capuano’s wife, Julie. She said the family regularly volunteered with the parish and school and the children are altar servers. “They’re a great family, very faith-filled, attended church every week,” she said. Patrick Elwood of Most Holy Redeemer Parish didn’t know Capuano but said he came out for the procession to honor the firefighter’s service. “You know you live down here and there are so many first responders,” he said. “They go to work for us everyday and their family does too. They never know if they’re going to be coming home. They just do their jobs.”