A crowd estimated at 500 people filed into the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on Monday to remember Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, who died June 13 at the age of 75 due to Alzheimer’s disease.

The service, which lasted less than 90 minutes and was closed to the media, featured comments by all seven of Bowlen’s children. John Finney, Bowlen’s friend of nearly 50 years, delivered the eulogy. Bowlen’s widow, Annabel, was in attendance.

“It was an extraordinary honor,” Finney said in a phone interview with The Denver Post on Monday night. “Pat had other close friends, too, so I was a little surprised I was invited to give the eulogy, but the kids had their various reasons.”

Finney, who flew to Denver from his home in Honolulu, said his speech was centered around football.

“I wanted to talk about Pat the man,” he said. “I didn’t want to talk about Broncos football, because I’m not as knowledgeable about who played and who coached. I got the canoe surfing days in and I got through it without breaking down.”

After the ceremony, Johnny Bowlen, one of Pat’s two sons, led the family out of the church while carrying a urn with his father’s ashes. A post-funeral reception was held at Cherry Hills Country Club. The family wore maile leis, which are worn at weddings and funerals in Hawaii.

The Broncos’ delegation was led by coach Vic Fangio, president/CEO Joe Ellis, general manager/former quarterback John Elway, team counsel Rich Slivka, director of sports medicine Steve “Greek” Antonopulos and kicker Brandon McManus. Earlier this month, Antonopulos was selected by the Bowlen children to present their father during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony Aug. 3 in Canton, Ohio.

Also in attendance …

NFL owners: John Mara (New York Giants), Jerry Jones (Dallas), Arthur Blank (Atlanta), Jim Irsay (Indianapolis), Art Rooney II (Pittsburgh), Stan Kroenke (Los Angeles Rams as well as the Avalanche and Nuggets) and Clark Hunt (Kansas City). Jones and Bowlen were long-time allies at the league level, chiefly in negotiating the NFL’s broadcasting rights.

Former Broncos players: Safety Steve Atwater, quarterback Peyton Manning, kicker David Treadwell, linebacker Bill Romanowski, cornerback Champ Bailey (who will be inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame with Bowlen), Hall of Fame running backs Terrell Davis and Floyd Little, safety David Bruton, receiver Ed McCaffrey, safety Mike Harden, Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe and safety John Lynch. After the funeral, Manning spent several minutes visiting with Irsay; Manning played the first 13 years of his NFL career for Indianapolis.

Former Broncos coaches: Mike Shanahan, John Fox, and Gary Kubiak as well as Nan Miller, the widow of the late Broncos coach Red Miller. Shanahan led the Broncos to Bowlen’s first two Super Bowl titles and Kubiak was the Broncos’ first-year coach during the 2015 Super Bowl season.

Dignitaries: Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis. Hancock also attended the public tribute to Bowlen last week at Broncos Stadium at Mile High.

David Baker, president/CEO of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was also in attendance.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was not present.

Finney said he closed his eulogy by saying: “I know Pat is in that big skybox in the sky watching his family, watching the team, sitting in the front row, chewing gum a mile a minute and waiting for football season to start. “

During a Saturday morning ceremony in Honolulu, Bowlen’s ashes will be spread in the Pacific Ocean close to his beloved Outrigger Canoe Club.