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Among those in line was Nila Alvarez, 68, who said she first met Cruz in Havana, where the singer thrilled nightclub crowds in the 1950s
She won best salsa album for "La Negra Tiene Tumbao" at last year's Latin Grammy Awards, and won the same award at this year's Grammys "
Cruz came to the United States in 1960, a year after the Cuban revolution Tousands Mourn Salsa Legend Celia Cruz
Jul 20, 6:55 AM EST
Tens of thousands of mourners lined the streets to pay their respects to salsa legend and Cuban exile Celia Cruz, weeping at her casket but also celebrating her music and shouting her trademark phrase, "Azucar!"
"This is Celia's day
Mourners included Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Latin music star Carlos Vives and Latin TV talk show host Cristina Saralegui The line stretched for 15 blocks at one point for the viewing at the Freedom Tower â€â€? the Ellis Island of the Cuban community, where immigration officials processed more than 500,000 Cubans who fled Fidel Castro's government in the 1960s "I always looked at her like a grandmother Many yelled Cruz's catch phrase "Azucar!" or sugar
The number of people paying their respects Saturday was estimated at more than 75,000
On Tuesday, a funeral Mass was set for St
Later, at Cruz's funeral Mass, family members, friends and fans remembered her engaging personality and energetic performing style " They clapped their hands to her music, blaring through speakers
Even after nine hours of public viewing, several thousand people were left unable to view the body when the doors to the Freedom Tower were closed to prepare for the procession to Gesu Catholic Church, where a memorial Mass was celebrated Saturday night
"She was always an idol, as a person and as an artist," Alvarez said
Singer Gloria Estefan, one of several featured speakers at the two-hour service, promised that "Celia will always live on
Cruz's body was to be returned to New York on Sunday
"She's inspired everyone in this room," said Jorge Moreno, a Miami-based Latin pop singer who performed with Cruz "
Many mourners held roses, some waved Cuban flags and most tried to shield themselves from the sun with umbrellas or floppy hats in the Cuban national colors of red, white and blue "
Cruz, 78, who recorded more than 70 albums, died Wednesday of a brain tumor at her home in Fort Lee, N She became so popular in Miami that Calle Ocho, the main street running through the city's Cuban community, has the honorary name of Celia Cruz Way
Across the street at the Estefans' Bongo's restaurant, celebrities and political and business leaders waiting for the procession ate sandwiches and croquettes as they remembered Cruz's influential 50-year career Her other best-known recordings include "Yerberito Moderno" and "Que le Den Candela On one side, Cruz's husband, trumpeter Pedro Knight, stood dressed in black with other family and friends She is the personification of Cuba, the free Cuba and the future Cuba," said Roly More, grandson of singer Benny More
While there was much weeping at Cruz's open casket, whenever the mood became too somber inside the tower people erupted in cheers, chanting "Celia, Celia
The casket was surrounded by white and purple flowers, as well as American and Cuban flags
Cruz's casket, wrapped in a Cuban flag, was loaded onto a limousine led by men in white shirts carrying a statue of the Virgin Mary Onlookers tossed roses at the slow-moving procession as Cruz's family and friends walked behind the limousine Patrick's Cathedral J |