Hundreds of people, including comedian Jon Stewart, mourned 9/11 responder Luis Alvarez at his funeral Wednesday in Queens.
The funeral, held at Immaculate Conception Church in Astoria, was standing room only.
Alvarez, a former New York Police Department detective, died Saturday from colorectal cancer, less than a month after he chastised lawmakers alongside Stewart for not replenishing funds to 9/11 victims.
“Luis could’ve spent his last days and weeks and hours with his family and loved ones, he chose to spend it making a difference,” said John Feal, founder of the Feal Good Foundation, which asked Alvarez to speak before Congress.
Doctors believe his cancer was connected to his work at Ground Zero after the terror attacks. Alvarez, 53, died in hospice care three years after the cancer diagnosis.
Stewart declined to comment at the funeral, saying the Alvarez family could speak for him.
“The Alvarez Family greatly appreciates the respect and outpouring of love and sympathy that has been shown for them in honor of Lou,” family spokesman Matt McCauley said in a statement.
Alvarez is survived by his wife, Alaine Parker Alvarez, and his three children, David, Tyler, and Benjamin.
