CHICAGO HEIGHTS | Mayor Alex Lopez was known for his many accomplishments in Chicago Heights. But in the end, it was his role as a family man that mattered.

"He was and will continue to be the heart of our family, a rock," Danny Lopez, the mayor's brother, said Thursday morning at his funeral.

St. Agnes Catholic Church, one block north of City Hall, was nearly full 45 minutes before the 11 a.m. service and was standing-room-only by the time it began as rain poured.

Lopez, 44, died Friday night after suffering a heart attack while attending his daughter's basketball practice at St. Agnes School.

Lopez, the city's first Hispanic mayor, was appointed by the City Council in April 2009 to succeed Anthony DeLuca, who resigned when he was appointed to the Illinois House of Representatives.

Lopez was pronounced dead at St. James Hospital and Health Centers in Chicago Heights at 6:39 p.m. Friday.

As his casket was wheeled into the church, his young daughters' wails of "Daddy" filled the sanctuary.

In the service, offered in both English and Spanish, the Rev. John Siemianowski spoke of the musical "Rent" and sang a portion of the song "Seasons of Love," which includes the line "How do you measure a year in the life?"

While many at the service may have looked toward Lopez's accomplishments in the public sector, Siemianowski said that is not the answer.

"As important as that all is, the answer to the song, to how do you measure a life, the answer is love," Siemianowski said. "Even though we may judge on different accomplishments, it's love I think Alex would now offer us. That's the rule of how to judge a life."

Siemianowski said he will remember Lopez's smile.

"I always thought he should be on a toothpaste commercial," the priest said. "He had more teeth there than any one person deserved."

Lopez was born in Weslaco, Texas, but spent most of his life in Chicago Heights.

Guadalupe Rivera, of Chicago Heights, grew up in Texas with Lopez's father and spoke prior to the service of the impact of the city's first Hispanic mayor.

"Our families were migrants and came to work the fields," Rivera, a retired electrician, said. "Now, look at the progress with Mayor Lopez achieving what he did. It meant something."

Also from Texas, Francisco Montalvo Jr., of Chicago Heights, attended the service. Montalvo is a retired professor from the University of Illinois.

"We have pride in our heritage, and when you see someone who goes and makes history, it's means something," Montalvo said. "He was a good person trying to make an example for us and the children growing up. That's something we admire in our people."

Several area politicians attended the service, but did so with little fanfare. None spoke during the service. Among those in attendance were DeLuca, Harvey Mayor Eric Kellogg and Cook County Circuit Court Judge George Scully. Most stood in the back for the funeral Mass.

While there were big names there, it was the little people who turned out in force to remember their mayor and friend.

"He just hired me on part-time not too long ago," a man who identified himself only as David said prior to the service. "He gave me a chance when I really needed it. I'll always be grateful for that."

Lopez was a graduate of Bloom High School and earned his bachelor's degree in finance in 1988 from Western Illinois University.

He was first elected to the Chicago Heights Park District Board in 1995 and served until 2003. From 2003 to 2006, he served as director of the Thornwood Apartments before being hired in 2006 as superintendent of the Park District.

He was appointed 2nd Ward alderman in 2007.

His brother said at the conclusion of the service that he could only imagine what the mayor would have thought of all the fanfare.

"Right now, I can picture him shining down from heaven with his big, big smile, pushed back hair and big glasses saying, 'Oh my gosh! Is that really about me?' and my answer is yes, big brother, and so much more."