James Gandolfini will be laid to rest Thursday following a 10 a.m. funeral service at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in Morningside Heights, New York City.

Beginning at 7 a.m., devoted fans lined up for more than a block in the oppressive New York heat for the chance to say goodbye to the beloved 51-year-old actor, best known for his role as mob boss Tony Soprano on the hit HBO series.

“I just had to be here. I watched ‘The Sopranos’ from beginning to the end,” said Manhattan resident Barbara Tomanelli to the New York Daily News.

Invited guests included Gandolfini’s family, friends, and admiring colleagues. Leading the parade of celebrity mourners was Aida Turturro, who played Gandolfini’s sister in “The Sopranos.” She was joined in mourning by Dick Cavett, Steve Buscemi, Edie Falco, Alec Baldwin, Julianna Marguiles, NBC anchor Brian Williams, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

Creator of “The Sopranos,” David Chase is one of the four people to eulogize the iconic actor. Gandolfini’s widow, Deborah, and two family friends will also offer their remembrances, reports the Huffington Post.

After the invited guests arrived, the public was welcomed into the cathedral, which was set up to accommodate as many as 2,000 people.

In his eulogy, Chase strived to capture the essence of Gandolfini. “I think your talent is that you can take the immensity of humankind and the universe and shine it right back at us,” he said, according to E!News.

Gandolfini, who died from a massive heart attack last week in Rome, will be remembered as a talented actor and a compassionate human being.