A sea of blue converged on a Long Island funeral home Saturday morning as scores of police officers paid their teary final respects to a fallen sister.
Emilia Rennhack was mourned by loved ones and coworkers at New Hyde Park Funeral Home a week after she and three other people were killed by a suspected drunk driver who plowed through a Suffolk County nail salon.
Mayor Adams addressed the crowds at the funeral and talked about how the officer came from Poland with her family “to pursue the American dream,” joined the force and met her husband, Det. Carl Rennhack, at the 102 Precinct in Queens where they both worked.
“She wore the uniform to protect the people of this city,” Adams said. “She found her love in Carl, who is also a detective in the New York City Police Department. They were married together, but they have a love affair with our city.”
The 30-year-old was getting her nails done at Hawaii Nail Spa in Deer Park on June 28 in preparation for a wedding later that day when accused drunk driver Steven Schwally rammed through the glass window out front, killing four people and injuring 10 others.
“Mothers and fathers should not bury their children,” Adams said.
“You lost your daughter, but she is a part of a larger family of the NYPD and we are going to pray for you and we are going to be here with you.”
The grieving husband made his first public comments at his wife’s last rites.
“Emilia held a lot of titles – wife, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, godmother, friend, police officer,” Rennhack said, as he appeared to hold back tears.
“She was always so happy,” he said. “Her laugh and smile were contagious.”
He talked about how the two went for a bite to eat when their shifts finished at the same time one night and the relationship flourished.
“After that date, I knew I had to see her again,” he said. “Our relationship progressed quickly.”
The two traveled the world together “building beautiful memories and stories” and she even brought him back to Poland and introduced him to her family, he said.
“We became inseparable,” he said. “Our lives intertwined.”
The two married in September and online wedding photos show her in an elegant white dress.
“My beautiful wife, I love you,” he said. “I know we’ll meet again. I miss you.”
Carl’s mother’s best friend, Anna Dragone, said the couple put a downpayment on a home in Farmingdale just a few days before her death.
The felled officer’s parents are now contemplating moving back to Poland, she said.
“This drunk driver is horrible,” she said. “He ruined everybody’s life for nothing.”
A cop who worked in the 102 precinct with Rennhack said “she will be missed.”
“It’s a very sad day for the 102 precinct,” the police officer said. “We lost a good one. She was loved.”
