RCMP Const. Chris Worden was remembered Monday in Ottawa as "a compassionate, caring and gentle man" dedicated to his wife and excited about his role as a new father.

Worden, from Ottawa, was shot to death on Oct. 6 at a suspected drug house in the Northwest Territories.

Mounties on horseback, a pipe band and police officers in dress uniform from across the country marched through the streets of Ottawa ahead of the regimental funeral service.

Worden's widow Jodie held their infant daughter Alexis, dressed in a small, red serge, in her arms on the steps of Notre Dame Basilica on Sussex Drive as she watched the procession from Parliament Hill to the church.

His sister Cathy spoke as his brothers, Michael and Peter, stood behind her, telling a crowd of 300 seated inside the church that Chris made a difference in life.

"We see it in Alexis every day. We see it in all of the officers here today, who want to go out and work in Chris's honour," she said. "And we see it in the thousands of people around the country and the world who now know the story of Const. Christopher John Worden - who will go out and live as he did: with humour, honour and love."

Const. Mike Carter delivered a eulogy, describing the 30-year-old father as "one of the greatest guys we've ever know."

"You will each have your own shared moments with Chris. Remember them and share them so Alexis will know what a wonderful man her father was," Carter said, choking back tears.

A large television monitor broadcasted the funeral outside the church, where hundreds of additional mourners, many of them Mounties in red serge, watched on.

Justice Minister Rob Nicholson was among the dignitaries in attendance.

RCMP Commissioner William Elliott, along with former commissioners Giuliano Zaccardelli and Phil Murray were also on hand.

Many of those who attended were Worden's fellow alumni from Wilfrid Laurier University. Worden was an avid Golden Hawks football fan and former player, CTV's David Akin said on Monday from Ottawa.

He died during an early-morning call to a notorious dwelling in Hay River, N.W.T., a community of about 3,600 located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake. He was alone at the time.

Canadians have already given messages of support for Worden's family, posting their condolences on a special website set up by the RCMP -- and on Sunday the website appeared to have crashed from heavy traffic.

"The past few days have been trying for our members in the Northwest Territories and across Canada," the RCMP said in a release. "These words of sympathy and support are very meaningful to us and reflect the strong relationships and commitments we have to the communities we serve."

Worden's colleagues have created a trust fund for his daughter. Donations may be made at any CIBC branch by quoting account number 2784033 and transit number 03192.

Police analyst John Muise told CTV Newsnet on Monday that even though most of the officers travelling to Ottawa never knew Worden, they still feel a very strong connection to him because of the job.

"The nature of the work is that you rely on somebody to come and help you with backup, to keep you safe, many of us have had incidents where a fellow officer has potentially saved your life," said Muise, a spokesperson for the Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness and 30-year police veteran.

Emrah Bulatci, the 23-year-old suspect in the shooting, was arrested Friday by Edmonton police after a seven-hour standoff. Bulatci will face charges of first-degree murder back in the Northwest Territories.

Another individual, 21-year-old Jarred Dale Nagle, is charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder.

With files from The Canadian Press