Bruce Rauner

Large Crowd Expected At Fallen Cmdr.'s Funeral Saturday

"He, looking down from his rightful place in heaven, is going to be shocked at the number of people," Fr. Dan Brandt, police chaplain, said.

Editor's note: A live stream of Cmdr. Paul Bauer's funeral will be available right here on NBCChicago.com beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday.

A large crowd is expected for Cmdr. Paul Bauer’s funeral mass on Saturday with at least eight Catholic priests, Cardinal Blase Cupich, Gov. Bruce Rauner and Mayor Rahm Emanuel expected in attendance. 

"He, looking down from his rightful place in heaven, is going to be shocked at the number of people," Fr. Dan Brandt, police chaplain, said. "He's going to say, 'What are all these people doing at my funeral?' Because I don't think he realized, in his humility, just the impact that he's made on countless lives."

A wake for Bauer will be held from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, and his funeral takes place at 10 a.m. The funeral procession route also was announced.

This past Sunday, Bauer was at the 11 a.m. mass with his wife and daughter at the Mercy Home, held twice a month, dedicated to CPD families.

His daughter, Grace, often reads Bible verses but had a sore throat, so Cmdr. Bauer did the first reading instead. The passage spoke of treatment of people with leprosy. 

"How fitting that Paul should read that reading then encounter the leprosy of society two days later," Fr. Brandt said.

Fr. Brandt, once the pastor of Bauer’s parish Nativity, often saw the commander at daily mass. 

"He came to mass every morning. He would go to the early mass before going to work."

The details of Bauer's funeral mass are still being finalized, but it is expected that Rauner and Emanuel will be among those who speak on Saturday.

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