It was a day to celebrate the life of Onset Fire Chief Howard Andersen, Deputy Chief Jeffrey Osswald told those gathered for the chief's funeral on Saturday.

"He loved the fire department and he loved his brothers and sisters" of the department, Osswald said. "Remember the love. ... Respect the need for him to leave and to rest."

Andersen passed away on October 4 after a battle with cancer. It was less than a month after his retirement celebration. He was 58.

Andersen joined the department at age 15 and retired after more than 43 years of service -- 16 of them as chief.

Osswald spoke of the many lives that Andersen touched.

"He taught me so much about the fire service and it's traditions," Osswald explained. "I think we all agree that we are better because of you, Howard."

Osswald thanked Andersen's family for "sharing" him with the fire department.

Andersen is survived by his wife, Theresa M. (Jones) Andersen; his parents, Howard and Joan Andersen; his son, Howard L. Andersen; 3 daughters, Leslie Andersen, Courtney Coache, and Brittany Andersen; a step-daughter, Nicole Demoura; 3 grandchildren, Michael, Adrianna, and Lillian.

Osswald told Andersen's children -- most of whom serve on the fire department in some capacity -- that the chief spoke of them proudly. He told Andersen's wife, Terry, how much the chief loved her.

Pastor Colon Wright of the Emmanuel Assembly of God in Onset led the service, an audio feed of which was played at the Onset Pier, where members of area fire departments and the Wareham community gathered to honor the chief.

Wright serves as the department's chaplain and had many conversations with the chief before he passed away.

"The first question he asked me," Wright recalled, "was, 'Will there be coffee in heaven?'"

A frequent visitor of the village's coffee shops throughout the years, it was no secret that the chief loved his coffee.

Andersen's niece, Julia Daly, noted: "We know he's in heaven, enjoying his coffee."

Members of the community were invited to speak about the chief.

"He was such a part of our community," said Ervin "Tootsie" Russell. "He was a man of short stature ... but he was a giant in his accomplishments."

A funeral procession followed the service through the Onset Fire District and downtown to Centre Cemetery, where the chief was laid to rest.

Andersen's casket, covered by a flag, was escorted by his brothers and sisters from throughout the state in an antique Onset fire engine driven by his son, Onset Fire Captain Howard L. Andersen.

The procession passed the Onset Pier between Marion and Bourne fire trucks with their ladders extended and a giant American flag suspended between them. Wareham Harbormaster and Sandwich Fire boats sat in Onset Bay with water blasting from the boats' attached fire hoses.

The procession stopped in front of the Onset Fire Department's East Central Avenue station.

A bell was rung, and the fire horn blasted five times, signaling the chief's final call.

On Onset Fire's radio frequency, firefighter John Gordon called out: "Onset to C-1."

"Onset to C-1."

"Onset to C-1."

There was no answer.

And Gordon thanked the chief for his service.