Worcester says farewell to US Rep. Joseph Early

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) -- Family, friends and former constituents have said farewell to former U.S. Rep. Joseph Early of Worcester at a funeral Mass in his hometown.

Hundreds who packed Blessed Sacrament Church sang his favorite hymn, the Christmas carol "Joy to the World" to end Wednesday's service. Early, also a longtime Massachusetts legislator, served in Congress from 1975 to 1993. He died Nov. 9 at the age of 79.

The Telegram & Gazette of Worcester reports Early's son, District Attorney Joseph Early Jr., said in a eulogy his father never took credit for the many initiatives he had been involved in, believing that deferring to others made for better cooperation.

As a state legislator, Early worked for critical funding for the University of Massachusetts Medical School complex in Worcester. In Congress he also supported education and scientific research.