A deep sadness permeated downtown Medford Monday for the funeral of Krystle Campbell, a native daughter killed one week ago in the bombings attacks at the Boston Marathon.
The funeral brought out hundreds, lining both sides of High Street as traffic was shut down near St. Joseph’s Church.
So many came out that the church got to capacity with many still lined up past the St. Joseph’s Social Center.
While they came to pay their respects to Campbell, 29, who most recently lived in Arlington and worked as a restaurant manager, many also came to shield the family from a potential protest.
The Westboro Baptist Church had threatened to picket the funeral, as they do at many high-profile events, to espouse their anti-gay views.
Teamster Local 25 members came out in full force to block a potential protest, forming a human shield along the side of High Street near Boynton Road.
No church protesters appeared at the funeral location Monday.
Gregg Danichuk, a Webster Street resident in Medford whose family owns Danichuk Auto Body in East Boston, said he read about the WBC’s efforts Sunday and knew he needed to come out to support the Campbell family.
“I felt like I had to come out and be a part of this,” Danichuk said. He added he has many friends in law enforcement and felt like much of the last week’s events hit close to home.
Although he didn’t know the Campbells, Danichuk felt a connection as his two boys graduated from Medford High School, like Campbell.
“That made it even a little closer to the heart,” said Danichuk.
Patty Saunders lives on Greenwood Terrace in Medford, not far from where the Campbell family presently resides on Park Street.
“My heart has been broken all week,” Saunders said. “I was still getting over Sandy Hook.”
Saunders’ son, Jeff, is a Massachusetts State Police trooper in the Homicide Division, and his mom said he took part in the Watertown operations that eventually led to the arrest of 19-year-old bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Friday.
“I’m so proud of all of our law enforcement,” Saunders said. “The police, the first responders. They all did such a great job.”
Saunders said the community’s outpouring of support for the Campbell family has been incredible.
“It’s not just Medford,” she said. “This was an attack on us. It affects everybody.”
Leigh Ghiradelli of Medford said she met Krystle Campbell on one occasion several years ago, saying her nephew went to high school with her. Though their interaction with brief, Ghiradelli recalled Campbell as a nice person.
“It’s great to see all this support for not just her family, but the families of all the victims,” Ghiradelli said.
Among the attendees of the funeral were Gov. Deval Patrick, Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray, U.S. Sen. Mo Cowan, U.S. Rep. Edward Markey and Boston Archdiosese Cardinal Sean O’Malley.