A who’s who of Connecticut politics lined up at the state Capitol in Hartford to pay their respects to former Gov. M. Jodi Rell on Tuesday. Rell died on Nov. 20 after a brief illness.

But instead of a wake, the atmosphere felt more like a family reunion. Those who knew Rell said that’s exactly how she would want it.

On a bone-chilling December morning, Jodi Rell arrived at the Capitol one last time. An Honor Guard saluted and bagpipes played as the late governor’s casket was slowly led inside. Rell son’s Michael, a Capitol lobbyist and former Wethersfield mayor, followed behind.

“It’s tough,” he said. “We’re a strong family. You know, we’re a very close family, but this was a surprise to us.”

Under a statue of Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hale, hundreds honored a leader known for kindness and compassion, who never made politics personal.

“We just don’t operate like other states do, and I think it really was the example that Gov. Rell started back then that continued on,” said state Rep. Vin Candelora (R-North Branford), the top Republican in the Connecticut House. “It was a very family-oriented type of atmosphere, and so a lot of that spirit is coming back today.”

When Rell took office in 2004, the atmosphere was anything but congenial. The sweltering July heat matched the steamy mood in Hartford. Rell’s predecessor, Gov. John Rowland, had just resigned amid a corruption scandal that sent him to prison.

“Literally, about 20 minutes before she took the oath, the sun came out, the clouds parted, and it was just symbolic,” said Larry Cafero, of Norwalk, who served as Connecticut House GOP leader under Rell.

Rell set out to restore the public’s trust in government, ushering in key ethics reforms. Although critics dismissed her as “the accidental governor,” Rell left office as one of Connecticut’s most popular leaders.

“It’s truly been an honor,” she told News 12 Connecticut in 2010. “It’s been my privilege to serve as governor. I never thought I would be governor of the state.”

Despite her relaxed style, Rell was a trailblazer. She remains only the second female governor in Connecticut history.

“There are so many women on both sides of the aisle that learned a lot about leadership from her,” said Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz.

Rell was also a champion for gay rights when it was politically unpopular. In 1991, she was one of only 13 Republicans to support the nation’s first anti-LGBTQ discrimination law. Later as governor, Rell made same-sex unions – and then marriage – legal.

“I am positive that she wanted to do it for personal reasons,” said Joe Grabarz, Connecticut’s first openly gay state lawmaker. “She expressed to me how personal it was for her to do that. Our relationship was important.”

In her hometown of Brookfield, Rell also inspired a young man named Stephen Harding to get into politics. Today, Harding is the top Republican in the state Senate.

“She would give me hand-written notes from time to time, encouraging me, saying positive things. And her attitude really kind of cut through the noise we see in politics today,” Harding said. “It wasn't political with her. You speak with Republicans, you speak with Democrats, you speak with independents, you get the same exact response about what a great lady she was, what a great mother.”

After leaving office in 2011, Rell moved to Florida to be closer to her grandchildren, where she died on Nov. 20 at 78 years old.

“This was a surprise to us – not only to the state of Connecticut, but you know, obviously to the family,” Mike Rell said. “She would be at all the ball games, all the Christmas concerts. Just a doting grandmother.”

Following Rell’s public viewing, a funeral service was held at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford. The former governor will be buried privately at the Connecticut State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown next to her husband Lou, a Navy veteran.