AUBURN - If greatness can be found in numbers, then Steven T. Netti was a great man.

More than 500 people paid respects to Steve and his family at a funeral Mass Saturday, filling to capacity St. Francis of Assisi Church, where he worshipped and worked. The Rev. Eugene Dobosz, officiated.

Steve, 49, a lifelong Auburn resident, died Tuesday at Matthew House hospice, Auburn.

His wife, Rosemarie; three sons, Thomas, John and Robert; four daughters, Alaina, Mary, Stephanie, and Theresa; and his parents, Thomas and Rose Netti attended the Mass, as well as his father- and mother-in-law, Norbert and Gloria Plis. Brothers Francis, James, Joseph, and their spouses; and his sister Grace, all of Auburn, were present, with several nieces and nephews.

Local dignitaries also came to the service, notably city and county officials.

Steve, a Cayuga County legislator since 1991, had long battled a brain tumor. He had served on Health and Human Services, Government Operations, and Judicial and Public Safety committees. He was also a Cayuga Community College trustee.

“Let us begin our celebration of eternal life for our brother, Steve,” Dobosz began. “May he now share great eternal glory. May he now share in Christ's victory over death.”

Dobosz said Steve was a good example of how to lead a Christian life.

“Steve passed away after a struggle, and he showed us how to be faithful to Jesus and to do God's will.” Dobosz said he never heard Steve complain. It was the first time in his life as a priest that he saw a young person that peaceful who recognized that God was on his side and that he belonged to God.

Steve's children, Tom Alaina, Mary, and Robert, presented the offertory gifts. St. Francis of Assisi's prayer was sung: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.”

Robert Granato spoke of his friendship with Steve since 10th grade. Granato said Steve impressed him when Steve challenged a two-time state champion at his first varsity wrestling match and almost beat him.

“It was like he unleashed a raging bull,” Granato said. “We're not surprised at how hard he fought and prayed and lived.”

“How long does it take to get to heaven?” Granato asked, promising an answer.

“Early Tuesday, at 11:56, Steve took his last breath.” Four minutes later, he said, a bell in the hospice rang twice. Rosie heard it but no one was near it.

He thought of the words from the movie “It's a Wonderful Life”: “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.”

“He was home in four minutes,” Granato said.

“I am the Resurrection and the Life,” Dobosz concluded. “Whoever believes in me shall have life everlasting,” The Lord's prayer followed.

Then Matt Cheche and Cayuga County legislator George C. Fearon both praised Steve's character.

Fearon read from John Masefield's “Sea Fever”: “And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by ...” “Steve found the stars and never got lost,” he said. “He adopted the Golden Rule as his silver star: 'You must love the Lord your God with your whole soul and your whole mind and your neighbor as yourself.'”

Steve's favorite rosary, one he got at a retreat in 1984, had one 'Hail Mary' bead missing,“ Fearon said. ”That's 4,700 'Hail Marys' he missed.“ Fearon asked the congregation to pray the missing ”Hail Marys,“ and everyone said one final prayer together.

Inclement weather prevented the procession to St. Joseph's Cemetery. Guests went to a reception celebrating Steve's life in the church hall.

Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net