Joey Fabus’ father, David, laid the little blue police cap from Joey’s uniform atop the casket at his funeral Monday in St. Bernard Parish in Mt. Lebanon. Joey, 8, was buried in that uniform in nearby Mt. Lebanon Cemetery.

Josef Giovanni Fabus dreamed of being a police officer when he grew up but was diagnosed with a rare tumor on his brain stem in May. Bethel Park Police Community Resource Officer Tom Rigatti helped him become an honorary officer in June.

He was sworn in by District Judge Ron Arnoni, wore a custom-made police uniform and spent the afternoon on patrol, giving a volunteer — Rigatti’s daughter — a traffic ticket he later waived in court.

Joey died Wednesday in Children’s Hospital and was honored with a full police funeral Monday at St. Bernard.

“To Officer Rigatti, members of the Bethel Park police and all those in law enforcement who have come from near and far to honor this little giant, thank you,” said the Rev. David Bonnar, pastor of St. Bernard, in his homily. “There is no greater form of respect or flattery than imitation.”

Police and firefighters from more than 40 agencies escorted Joey’s funeral procession from Bethel Park to Mt. Lebanon, then stood at attention, six rows deep, outside St. Bernard Parish as Joey’s casket was carried inside to the sound of an honor guard’s bagpipes.

Rigatti said words could hardly express the gratitude he felt toward his fellow officers and the community at large for the help and comfort they gave Joey and his family.

“All the support they’ve gotten the last eight months, to get them through this journey with Joey, has just been unbelievable,” Rigatti said. “Joey was a great kid, and this was a tough, emotional journey for the family, but I think it’s something they’ll remember for a long, long time.”

Along the procession route, family, friends and strangers waited outside in the snow with “Joey Strong” signs to support the family. Business signs along the route were changed to read “Joey Strong.”

“He was friends with everybody, so happy and smiling every day. It just touches your heart,” said Shawn Reich, 10, a playmate of Joey’s from Dormont waiting for the procession along Washington Road.

“Thank you all for being so patient with us during this journey and for supporting us with whatever you could,” David Fabus wrote in a public Facebook message the day after Joey died. “We were able to deal with this nightmare because we had the love and support of so many wonderful people.”

In the months since Joey’s diagnosis in May with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, or DIPG, hundreds of people came together in support, organizing fundraisers to help the family and arranging other activities to cheer up Joey.

He participated in a parade, became honorary commander for a day at the 171st Air Refueling Wing and rode in a garbage truck. One of his other dreams had been to become a sanitation worker.

“How beautiful it is to see the Bethel Park community … and even those beyond, reaching out to the Fabus family,” Bonnar said. “And Joey’s family has reciprocated by sharing their son and brother and demonstrating true courage amid his loss.”

The church was standing-room-only for the funeral service.

Family members and friends have started the Joey Fabus Childhood Cancer Foundation to raise money for cancer research, and his family has become involved in supporting other parents of children with DIPG. An online GoFundMe campaign had raised more than $3,600 for the foundation as of Monday.

Matthew Santoni is a staff writer for Trib Total Media.