Community joins in mourning loss

The funeral home's neighbors offered their driveways for parking.
& lt;a href=mailto:jgoodwin@vindy.com & gt;By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR & lt;/a & gt;.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- Minutes before the start of calling hours Thursday night at Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home, police officers, firefighters, paramedics and friends of the family were lined at the door to pay respects to the family of slain officer Michael Hartzell.
Youngstown police officers Samuel Mosca and Gerard Slattery said police had not been able to mourn the loss of their fellow officer previously. The focus had been on finding the man responsible for the slaying.
"The process of grieving can begin now," Slattery said. "We couldn't concentrate on grieving until the suspect was in custody, and now the grieving process can begin."
Many of those who entered the funeral home with somber faces emerged with tear-filled eyes, too upset to talk.
Both streets leading to the funeral home were lined with parked cars -- including police cars from various departments.
When there were too many cars for the available parking places, nearby residents came out and offered their driveways to those headed to the funeral home.
The funeral home shuttled mourners from a nearby department store parking lot -- a service that will continue during calling hours today.
Thousands expected
Terry Reardon, funeral home owner, said hundreds of mourners came through his facility in the first few minutes of calling hours.
He anticipates thousands will have been at the funeral home by the end of calling hours today, which will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Local safety forces did a wonderful job with directing traffic and helping everything move along smoothly, he said.
"This expression of unity makes you feel good about living here," he said.
Khristina Waselich, a paramedic for Clemente Ambulance Service, did not know Hartzell personally but said she attended the calling hours because such a tragedy affects everyone in emergency services.
The grieving process for most will be a long one.
Tom Miller, a high school friend of Hartzell's, and Tamara Diglaw, who has a brother in law enforcement, said there is no telling how long it will be before they come to terms with Hartzell's death.
"This is just a shame and it's really sad, but it is nice to see so many people have come out," Miller said.
& lt;a href=mailto:jgoodwin@vindy.com & gt;jgoodwin@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;