A rainbow of umbrellas covered the three staircases leading into Saint Ann’s Church, 74 Pleasant St., on Thursday morning, carried by mourners who couldn’t fit in the church for the funeral Mass celebrating the life of Christopher Dailey.
Dailey, 18, died from injuries suffered in a head-on crash on the A. Piatt Andrew bridge early in the morning of June 30. Authorities said a man in his 80s was driving the wrong way when the cars collided. Three of Dailey’s classmates, all members of Gloucester High’s Class of 2025, were also injured in the crash.
More than 1,000 people attended the Mass for Dailey, a Gloucester High hockey standout, including members of the Gloucester, Rockport, Danvers, Beverly and Marblehead hockey teams and their coaches.
Members of the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council Motors Unit, with Gloucester Police Officer Joe Parady in the lead, led the funeral procession from Greely Funeral Home on Washington Street to the church.
Homes in the neighborhood, throughout Gloucester and elsewhere have sported hockey sticks, skates and Dailey’s No. 18 in their doorways this week.
Dailey was born in Beverly, grew up in Gloucester and attended Rockport schools through eighth grade. He was involved in youth sports, including baseball, soccer and lacrosse, “but his true love was hockey.”
Learning to skate at age 2, he went on to play as a four-year varsity player for the Fishermen, serving as a co-captain and earning the distinction of Defenseman of the Year in his senior year. The Gloucester High School Hockey Boosters said it will retire his No. 18 jersey and hang it at Talbot Rink.
Dailey graduated high school June 8 and planned to study business at Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina in the fall. Among those he leaves behind are his parents Rich and Nicole Dailey and his sister, Rachel, with whom he shared an “unbreakable” bond.
A Chris Dailey Memorial Scholarship fund has been established. An anonymous donor has given a signed 2010-2011 Bruins hockey stick to be raffled off to build up the fund. Raffle tickets — $5 each or $10 for three — are being sold by the Capt. Lester S. Wass American American Legion Post 3 through Friday evening at the post or online at Post 3.org/events. The winner will be announced Friday after the “Todd Angilly — From Anthems to Icons” show at the post and notified by email. Tickets may also be purchased in the lounge during lounge hours.