LAWRENCE, Mass. — Inside St. Patrick Church, people held hands, rested their heads on another's shoulders or stared into the distance, sobbing softly and wiping away tears.

Next to the altar were the caskets of Linda Cahalane and her son, Sean, side by side and covered with the traditional white burial cloth.

"There are no words that would make this easier," admitted the Rev. Paul McManus, priest at St. Patrick, who conducted yesterday's double funeral.

Linda Cahalane, 51, died last Monday when she ran back inside her burning home at 15 Leeds Terrace in an attempt to rescue her son. Sean, 20, who was developmentally disabled, did not want to jump out the window of his second-floor bedroom.

McManus used the words almsgiving and martyrdom to describe Linda.

"Almsgiving is the gift prompted by love to help the needy," he said. "In the same Bible, it says that one can have no greater love than to lay down one's life for a friend.

"Martyrdom means to accept death for the sake of one's friend. In her act of attempting to rescue her son Sean, Linda became a martyr, a witness to her faith and an excellent almsgiver."

As for Sean, McManus said he was "differently able, not disabled" as the world refers to the special needs.

"He was a worthy, loving and contributing member of the Cahalane family," the priest said. "Because of his being differently able, I believe that God has his own different standards for his special children. And we now place Sean into his loving hands."

He also offered prayers for George "Russ" Cahalane, Linda's husband and Sean's father.

"My prayers are not complete without asking our heavenly physician to pour forth his healing balm on Russ, on his head and his heart," McManus said.

In his eulogy, family friend Paul Waterson had nothing but praise for Linda and Sean.

"Linda's compassion knew no bounds," he said. "Theirs was a blended family, but stepchildren, grandchildren and stepgrandchildren did not apply to her. Her love for all was unequal."

Waterson said Linda was the cookie manager for the Girl Scout troop at St. Patrick Church, and she involved her entire family when the cookies had to be sorted and distributed.

Just as Linda had a special love for children, Sean was also there to encourage them to achieve what they thought they could not do, as was the case with her grandchild who was afraid to get into the pool.

"Sean held her hand and told her, 'You can do it.' He did not want her to be left out of the fun," Waterson said.

Choir members sang, "Amazing Grace" as the silver-colored casket carrying Linda Cahalane and the green casket holding Sean's body exited the church. George Cahalane shook people's hands during the procession, his eyes full of tears.

Outside the church, Frank Rowe, pipe major for Campbell Highlanders of North Andover, played the bagpipes as the caskets were placed in the hearse.

Also standing outside were three members of Engine 3 in Andover. George Cahalane, a retired Andover fire and police dispatcher, saluted them as he entered the car.

Where to donate

What: Cahalane Fire Fund

Where: Andover Federal Credit Union, 19C Lupine Road, Andover, MA 01810