Parishioner calls day a sad one because of George's death

Lifelong parishioner Jim Coleman showed up at Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral to say a prayer for Cardinal Francis George.

George, who retired last year as Chicago's archbishop, died Friday after a long fight with cancer.

Coleman calls it a "sad day" because of George's death. However, he says it was also "a day of rejoicing" because George was such a significant part of Chicago history and meant so much to so many people."

Brigid Cashman, a religious education instructor at St. Francis Xavier Warde School, says George was both a symbol of courage and bravery as he battled polio as a child and cancer as an adult.

Cashman says she never heard George complain, adding he taught all how to deal with challenges life brings with "grace and gratitude."