A sea of blue spread across a Long Island funeral home Saturday morning as dozens of police officers paid tearful final tributes to the slain sisters.
A week after Emilia Renhack and three others were killed when a suspected drunk driver crashed into a Suffolk County nail salon, her loved ones and co-workers mourned her at a New Hyde Park funeral home.
Mayor Adams addressed the crowd at the funeral, telling the story of how the officer came from Poland with her family “chasing the American dream” and joined the police force, meeting her husband, Detective Carl Lenhack, at the 102nd Precinct in Queens, where they both served.
“She put on the uniform to protect the people of this city,” Adams said, “and she found love in Carl, who was also an NYPD detective. They were married, but she was in love with our city.”
A 30-year-old woman was at the nail salon at Hawaii Nail Spa in Deer Park on June 28 in preparation for a wedding that day when a suspected drunk driver, Steven Schwalli, crashed into a glass window in front of the business, killing four people and injuring 10.
“No mother or father should have to bury their child,” Adams said.
“You have lost your daughter, but she is part of the larger NYPD family. We are praying for you and we are here with you.”
The grieving husband made his first public comments during his wife’s final rites.
“Emilia was many things: wife, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, godmother, friend and police officer,” Lenhack said, fighting back tears.
“She was always so happy,” he said. “Her laugh and smile were contagious.”
He said their shifts ended at the same time one night, so they went out to dinner together and their relationship deepened.
“After that date, I knew I had to see her again,” he said. “Our relationship progressed quickly.”
The two traveled the world together, “creating beautiful memories and stories,” and she brought him back to Poland to introduce him to her family.
“We’ve become inseparable,” he says. “Our lives are intertwined.”
The couple married in September, and online wedding photos show her wearing an elegant white dress.
“I love you, my beautiful wife,” he said. “I know we will meet again. I miss you.”
Anna Dragon, a close friend of Carl’s mother, said the couple made a down payment on a Farmingdale home just days before Carl died.
The parents of the deceased officer are now considering returning to Poland.
“This drunk driver is awful,” she said. “He ruined everybody’s lives for no reason.”
“We will miss her,” said an officer who worked with Lenhack at the 102nd Precinct.
“It’s a very sad day for the 102nd Precinct,” the officer said. “We’ve lost a loved one. She was loved.”
