Funeral, visitation for Charlie Sanders open to public

Visitation to be held Friday, funeral on Saturday

ROCHESTER, Mich. – There will be a public visitation for the Detroit Lions Hall of Fame tight end Charlie Sanders

The visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the Pixley Funeral Home in Rochester.

A service of remembrance will begin at 7 p.m.

A funeral mass will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Rochester.

Sanders, who played from 1968 through 1977, died Thursday from cancer. He spent 43 years with the Lions as a player, assistant coach, scout and radio broadcaster.

Lions President Tom Lewand said Sanders was "one of the greatest Detroit Lions of all time."

Sanders was elected in 2007 to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He made 336 catches over his career, a team record that would stand for 20 years until Herman Moore passed him.

Sanders played college football at Minnesota. In 1968, he was the only rookie to play in the Pro Bowl.

The Pixley Funeral Home is located at 322 W. University Drive in Rochester.

St. Andrew Catholic Church is located at 1400 Inglewood Street in Rochester.