Pallbearers carry the casket of crossing guard Krystyna Naprawa in Howard Beach on Oct. 26.
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
The mournful skirl of bagpipes filled the air outside St. Helen’s Roman Catholic Church in Howard Beach on Thursday, Oct. 26, as the NYPD held its line of duty death funeral for Krystyna Naprawa, the 63-year-old school crossing guard who was struck and killed by a dump truck driver near the border of Woodhaven and Ozone Park on Friday, Oct. 20.
Hundreds of NYPD officers joined school crossing guards and traffic agents along 157th Avenue, where they gave a final salute to their colleague who lost her life while protecting the lives of children.
Council Member Joann Ariola knew Naprawa personally, having lived in the same neighborhood in Lindenwood.
“Krystyna Naprawa was a true asset to our community, and represented the very best of what we stand for as Americans,” Ariola said following the funeral. “After immigrating to this nation from Poland, Krystyna went to work as a crossing guard with the NYPD, spending each day protecting local school children while pursuing the American Dream. Her loss has affected us all deeply, and I will continue to pray for her and her family during this difficult time.”
Inside St. Helen’s, the fallen crossing guard was eulogized by NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban.
“The role of a school crossing guard has inherent risk,” Caban said. “Krystyna knew this all too well. She was actually struck by a car once in her career before, but went back to work that very same day. That’s just the kind of person she was. Such incredible devotion is rare. The NYPD was blessed to count her amongst New York’s finest.”
Caban recalled how Naprawa emigrated from Poland to pursue the American dream in the early ’90s and worked as a cleaning lady until she saved enough to bring her young family to the United States. Her son joined the NYPD and later moved to the Port Authority Police Department where he…
Read the full article here
