A gold coffin covered in flowers containing the body of Carl Williams has arrived at the Melbourne church where the slain gangland figure will be farewelled.
There is also a large police presence at St Therese's Catholic Church in Essendon, where the funeral for Williams is currently under way
About a dozen people have arrived under grey skies to mourn Williams, who was a key figure in Melbourne's gangland wars.
Williams estranged wife Roberta is expected to lead the eulogies and some of her children will also speak.
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St Therese's parish priest Father Bill Attard has stated his role is to support the family.
“My job is to support the family in their grief, time of loss, especially young Dhakota, and pray for Carl Williams, that's my role," he told reporters.
A police unit will monitor the funeral and manage traffic, but more officers will be on standby if required, a police spokeswoman said.
Williams will be buried at Keilor Cemetery, not far from the graves of his mother and his former henchman, Andrew "Benji" Veniamin.
The underworld figure was bashed to death with the stem of an exercise bike in the day room of his maximum-security unit at Barwon Prison, near Geelong, 11 days ago.
