Fans say goodbye to Gordie Howe

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings and the family of hockey legend Gordie Howe flocked to a public visitation Tuesday at Joe Louis Arena.

The Howe family greeted the public while the iconic hockey legend lie in state inside the arena bowl where the friends, family and fans of Mr. Hockey will be allowed to pay their respects.

Those who wished to share a memory with the Red Wings video team were be able to do so in the concourse level of the arena, near the Gordie Howe statue.

Hockey greats such as Wayne Gretzky, Scotty Bowman and Steve Yzerman were in attendance. 

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament located at 9844 Woodward Ave in Detroit.

The Howe family has emphasized that all media and fans continue to respect the family’s privacy during this time and that any donations are to be made in Howe’s honor to any of the following originations:

• The Gordie Howe Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative (www.ghi4tbi.org or mail a check to ProMedica Foundations, 5217 Monroe St., Suite A-1, Toledo, OH 43623);
• The Howe Foundation (3128 Walton Blvd., #255, Rochester Hills, MI 48309);
•  The Gordie Howe Fund for Alzheimer’s Research (Saskatoon Community Foundation, 101-308 Fourth Ave. North, Saskatoon, SK Canada, S7K 2L7).
•  Gordie Howe’s funeral service will be held on Wednesday, June 15 at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament (9844 Woodward Ave.) in Detroit.

A Facebook fan page has been set up for those who wish to pay their respects but cannot attend the visitation.