For many people, Bills Mafia means more than just rooting for the hometown team. It's about family, togetherness, a unifying force.

That's certainly the case for the Gavin family of Hamburg, although spending any amount of time with them shows their bond is strong enough on its own.

"The Bills were just a part of our lives," said Jill Gavin. 

The Gavin family is big, with lots of brothers, sisters, grandchildren, and cousins. And that means lots of love — they call it "G-Love."

"These kids today, they're all grown," said Tim Gavin, Jill's uncle. "They're all having kids. And they're still best friends."

Tim is one of eight children, and his best friend is his brother Shawn — a huge Bills fan, like the rest of the family. 

"If the Bills were on TV, he was going to watch the game," Tim said.

And Shawn passed down that love to his four daughters, Kathleen, Jody, Jill and Kelly.

"I think everybody imagines my dad always wanted a boy, but he never cared," said Shawn's daughter Jill. "It helped that we love football and we drink beer and we go fishing."

"We would have Super Bowl parties. We would have Sunday football parties," Jody said. "The entire family would come over."

Coming together — much like this celebration they had on Wednesday: Shawn's 65th birthday. 

"He never cared about himself," Jill said. "He'd be happy that we get to enjoy this. He'd say, 'don't worry about me. You guys enjoy this.'”

But Shawn was there in spirit as his family sat around a bonfire, sharing stories and shots of his favorite Fireball whiskey.

He died last Saturday after battling stage IV lung cancer for two-and-a-half years. His daughter Jill moved in and took care of him before he passed. 

"He would tell everybody, 'Jilly's an angel. I got the best nurse on the planet.' He was just so grateful and so appreciative and so humble,” Jill said.

Jody Gavin saw her father fight through the pain much longer than doctors expected, facing his diagnosis with courage and strength. 

"He's really taught all of us just to be positive and no matter what life throws at you, if you stay positive it makes such a huge impact, and that's even what his doctors said," Jill said.

After saying goodbye to his brother and best friend, Tim, decided to pay tribute in a way that was true to Shawn's passion for the Bills.

"And it dawned on me that my brother would love to be at the game," Tim said.

For several years, Tim has worked at Bills Stadium during games, running the heaters on the sidelines that keep the players warm on the bench. 

That night, the Bills hosted the Ravens in an AFC Divisional playoff game, and Tim brought a cutout picture of Shawn along with him. Shawn's daughters picked out the photo of their father.

Tim asked if he could place it in an empty seat — so his brother could watch — and the stadium crew obliged.

"On the 21st row. Fifty-yard line. Best seat in the house," Tim said. 

Buffalo News photographer James P. McCoy captured an image of Tim and Shawn together to see the Bills win. And late in the game, his family saw Shawn on the television broadcast in the background during an instant replay.

Mixed emotions — joy and sorrow — for the entire Gavin family.

"It was the worst day of our entire lives and my uncle was able to bring us a little bit of joy," Jody said. "We were able to watch the game and as bittersweet as it was, there was some happiness there because we got to look for our dad. We knew he was there. We knew he was shining down."

A bright light in the lives of so many — one that will continue on through his family.

"Every time I leave the house I just get to look at [the cutout image of her father] and say, 'I love you, Dad. Anybody tell you they love you today?'” Jill said. "Because that was his favorite phrase, and he just used it to make people smile."

And he'd surely be smiling too — about his beloved Buffalo Bills, of course — and the legacy of love he leaves behind. 

"So his grandchildren can know the love of 'G-Love,'" Tim said.

There's no doubt they do, and they will.