Dozens of police and fire personnel paid their last respects to one of their own Thursday, as retired Enfield police officer Robert Chadderton was laid to rest.
Chadderton, 64, died unexpectedly from a sudden heart attack Saturday.
He spent more than 40 years with the Enfield Police Department, and was instrumental in assisting with construction of the new police station on Elm Street in the early 1990s, and with setting up the current communication system used by the department.
A procession of more than two dozen vehicles, including police cars, motorcycles and fire trucks, made its way from Leete-Stevens Enfield Chapels to St. Bernard Church for the funeral.
"Commitment and humble service are two key themes that exemplify the life of Bob Chadderton, and these two themes are filled with the virtues that each one of us can learn from and emulate," Fr. John Melnick said. "Although Bob left this world all too suddenly, leaving us in a deep sadness, we should have no fear for Bob, for his legacy is one that was true - his legacy will not be forgotten."
Ken Fargnoli, brother-in-law of Chadderton's wife, Karen, delivered the eulogy.
"We both married into this wonderful family in 1982," Fargnoli said. "Although Bob's career was very important to him, his true love was his new family...I had the honor of spending four vacations with him in the last few years on cruise ships. Bob really loved cruising with family and friends; we weren't even off the ship yet and he was thinking about our next one."
Fargnoli said Chadderton and his wife had cruised in Europe just four weeks ago, and he was thrilled to spend time with his newest grandson Timothy in France.
Following the service, the procession made its way to St. Patrick's King Street Cemetery, but detoured for a brief pause in front of the Elm Street public safety complex that Chadderton had helped build.
Upon entry to the cemetery, the procession passed beneath a huge American flag, hung between a pair of ladder trucks from the Enfield and North Thompsonville fire department. Chadderton was a longtime fire commissioner with the Enfield district.
A U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War, Chadderton was buried with full military honors.