PACKERS Favre's father 'pillar of family'

Irvin Favre instilled a toughness in the family, a spokesman said.
PASS CHRISTIAN, Miss. (AP) -- A line of mourners stretched out of the church and down the block, waiting to pay their respect Wednesday to the father of Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre.
Hundreds gathered on a crisp, sunny day at a church on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for funeral services for Irvin Favre, who died Sunday.
Some waited in line for as long as an hour.
Brett Favre, dressed in a dark blazer, stood inside the church at the end of the receiving line, sharing hugs and pleasantries with well wishers.
Relaying the word
Favre family spokesman James "Bus" Cook spoke to reporters before the service.
He said "Big Irv" would be missed, but he instilled a sense of toughness into the family that will help them get through this loss.
"He was the pillar of this family. The rock on which it was built," Cook said. "He was a father, but he was like a brother to them, too."
Irvin Favre was to be buried in a nearby cemetery.
The 58-year-old, a popular coaching figure in southern Mississippi, died of a heart attack or stroke while driving near his home in Kiln.
His car ran into a ditch, but authorities have said the crash did not kill him.
Irvin Favre coached football and baseball in the area for nearly three decades. He coached at St. John High School in Biloxi and later he coached his three sons -- including Brett -- at Hancock North Central.
Even with young Brett starting at quarterback for three years, Favre's Hancock North Central team ran the wishbone.
"I always told my dad the wishbone would never get me to pro football," Favre joked after winning an unprecedented third straight NFL MVP award in 1997. "Thanks, Dad."
Brett Favre made his 205th consecutive start Monday night in Oakland, the day after his father's death. It turned out to be one of his best ever.
He threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns, leading the Packers to a pivotal 41-7 win over the Raiders. Favre and his wife, Deanna, flew to Mississippi after the game.
The Packers still have a shot to make the playoffs and win the NFC North championship.
They play Denver at home on Sunday.
Packers represented
Green Bay Packers coach Mike Sherman juggled his schedule so that he could attend Irvin Favre's funeral at St. Paul Catholic Church.
Sherman and Packers backup quarterback Doug Pederson arrived at the seaside church about an hour before the service was to start and were escorted through a side entrance.
Irvin Favre was a high school coach for 28 years before resigning in 1994.
He returned to coaching with the Mississippi Fire Dogs, an indoor minor league football team that played in Biloxi.
He led the Fire Dogs to a 17-1 season and National Indoor Football League championship.
He graduated from Gulfport High School in 1963 and played baseball at Southern Miss, where Brett Favre played football.