Felicia Reilly told the child she’d take the kitten home. She named the cat “Donut” and Matthew Reilly took the cat with him when he moved out of his parents’ house. His roommate was a veteran who served in Iraq; Donut helped him acclimate back into civilian life and became his cat.

Felicia Reilly, who struggled with lasting injuries, “never made a promise, no matter how small, that she did not keep,” her son said.

The community gathered on Monday to honor the life of Felicia Reilly, a St. Paul police officer who died nearly 15 years after suffering injuries in the line of duty.