Hundreds gathered at Gloria Dei Evangelical Lutheran Church in Huntington Station Saturday to say farewell to one of West Islip?s bravest who leaves behind a wife and seven children.

Fifty-year-old Edward Mueller, an emergency medical technician for the West Islip Fire Department, died of a heart attack last Saturday. Fire Chief Michael Delgado says Mueller was one of the first responders on the scene of a fire in West Islip Friday night. He says Mueller had a massive heart attack the next morning while visiting his stepdaughters at college in Oneonta.

State law says if a first responder dies within 24 hours of a call, his death is considered to be in the line of duty.

Mueller's son-in-law, John Hoffman, belonged to the same fire department. Hoffman says Mueller was extremely dedicated and his death is a big loss to the community.

Mueller also held a second job as a physical therapist assistant at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore to help make ends meet.

Mueller died one year to the day after bringing home adopted daughter Victoria from China. Friends say Mueller?s spirit will live on in his children and loving wife.