CRANSTON -- The funeral procession came through Jimmy Pagano's old neighborhood in Garden City and it brought the neighborhood to a standstill as his casket was led and surrounded by Cranston firefighters and the Rhode Island Professional Firefighters Pipes and Drums Corps.

As the procession passed by the Garden City Barbershop, people stood quietly and watched them pass.

Outside the Canston-Johnston Catholic Regional School, students and teachers stood in silence, some of the children had their hands over their hearts.

Pagano, a lieutenant with the Cranston Fire Department, died after being shot in torso last weekend. The police have charged Nicholas Gianquitti, 40, with murdering Pagano after the neighbors allegedly had a dispute. A District Court judge Wednesday ordered Gianquitti held without bail.

As the procession neared the Church of St. Mark, firefighters from all over the state stood at attention. Cranston firefighters lined either side of the walkway into the church.

As the casket was brought in by six Cranston firefighters who'd been closest to Pagano, the Cranston firefighters on either side of the aisle raised their white gloves in a salute. Pagano's family walked behind the mahogany casket, some of them bursting into tears. Pagano was a married father of two.

"What's the worst is seeing the family," said retired Providence fire investigator Bob Jarvis, a drummer in the pipes and drums corps. "The whole thing is just tragic. It was senseless."

Outside, an old friend watched in awe. Greg Mancini, of North Kingstown, had grown up with Pagano as one of the "Garden City boys," their homes only a few streets away.

Mancini said he had stood in line at the wake last night for his old friend for two hours. Pagano's death has brought together many people. Some of his old friends had flown in from all across the country to be here.

"The whole thing is unfortunate and unecessary," Mancini said.

Inside the church, the Rev. Thomas McGonigle told the hundreds of mourners that Pagano lives on, and in mysterious ways, would continue as a source of love and support for all who knew him for the rest of their lives.

People filled the pews. Firefighters lined the walls. And McGonigle, a Pagano family friend, gave the homily at the Church of St. Mark for Pagano, who the police say was shot and killed by a next-door neighbor in Cranston Sunday.

"In the mystery of our journey as human beings, both life and death are with us," McGonigle said.

He continued: "We did not choose the time and place when we came into this world and, in most cases, we do not choose the time and place in which we leave this world."

McGonigle said that "God knows how to bring good, even out of tragedy itself."

He added that Pagano was "a source of love, life and support for his family, his friend, his neighbors and the firefighters" with which he served.

Pagano "would have laid down his life for another," McGonigle said, "because he cherished life."

At 11:33 a.m., Pagano's casket was carried out of the church by six Cranston firefighters, followed by his wife, children and other family members as the Cranston firefighters lining the walkways outside the church and the Cranston police officer on the hill facing the church saluted.

The band played "Going Home" and the bagpipes blended with the chime of the church bells.

Shortly before noon, the procession to the cemetery began. The hearse carrying Pagano's casket was escorted by four Providence police motorcycle officers and followed by a limousine carrying the firefighter's wife and two children.