A hearse carrying former New York Governor Mario Cuomo arrives at St. Ignatius Church in Manhattan.

Cuomo -- who served as the state's chief executive from 1983-1994 -- was a leading voice of the Democratic Party's progressive wing.

Some waited hours in the snow for the chance to say goodbye.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED FUNERAL ATTENDEE SAYING:

"He was an inspiration to so many generations of people who are still in politics, and he was intelligent, he was thoughtful, and he cared so much about each one of us."

Former President Bill Clinton and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were among the dignitaries in attendance.

Cuomo's son, current New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said his father was anything but a typical politician.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW YORK GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO SAYING:

"His politics were really a personal belief system -- it was who he was not what he did."

Mario Cuomo -- who turned down several in