OLIVIERI
TRAGEDY: A young relative is consoled yesterday at the funeral for a cop hit by a car on the LIE. (
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An ex-wife of Nassau County cop Joseph Olivieri was found dead yesterday just hours after his funeral, sources said.
Police discovered the body of Christine Bregante, 39, in her Centereach home at around 8 p.m. She appeared to have been dead for several days, sources said. No criminality was suspected.
Earlier, thousands of police officers bade a sad farewell to Olivieri.
Four solemn rows of cops from Jersey City to Southold lined up for more than half a mile to pay respects to the veteran officer at St. Joseph’s Church in Ronkonkoma.
Olivieri, 43, father of Amanda, 21, and Daniel, 18, was killed in the predawn hours last Thursday morning as he rushed to assist a crashed motorist on the LIE and was struck by an SUV.
The initial crash allegedly involved a DWI.
“Joe was a dedicated guy . . . a guy who, when he was called, was the first one there,” said Nassau County Police Benevolent Association President James Carver.