Funeral held for longtime New Jersey Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. in his Paterson hometown
PATERSON, N.J. -- A funeral was held Wednesday for New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. The 14-term incumbent died last week at the age of 87 from an undisclosed illness.
Hundreds of firefighters and police officers lined Main Street in Paterson, as friends and family entered the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Inside, it was standing room only.
Bill Pascrell III urged friends, family, and constituents to carry on his father's legacy.
"He did everything he could, as soon as he could, to help anyone who needed him. Now, it is up to us to carry in his footsteps. Let us have the courage to follow his example," Pascrell III said.
Mourners can watch the complete funeral service here.
Remembering New Jersey Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr.
A day after a jam-packed wake inside the church, powerful Democrats descended on Paterson on Wednesday, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Gov. Phil Murphy and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, all to pay respect to a giant in New Jersey politics.
Pascrell proudly called Paterson his lifelong home, and he was a lifelong public servant. He represented the people of his beloved city and the surrounding counties for 14 terms in Congress.
After graduating from Fordham University, Pascrell served in the U.S. Army and spent years teaching high school before breaking into politics.
Pascrell was first elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1987 and then went on to serve as the mayor of Paterson. He was elected to Congress in 1996, where he remained until his death.
"I think he was the embodiment of what we like to think of as a 'Jersey guy,' who went to Washington, stood up for the people of his district and his state, and really made a difference," Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin said.
"He was a feisty, fierce fighter from Paterson"
Politicians in New Jersey and in Washington D.C. said Pascrell was somebody they wanted in their corner.
"He was a feisty, fierce fighter from Paterson, the only home he's ever known, and when I was elected to the council twice, elected mayor twice, he swore me in. And I always say that it's better to have Bill Pascrell swear you in than swear at you," Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh said.
"There will never be another Bill Pascrell. We were just talking, all the cops and firefighters were here because he fought for them every single day. People in the community were here. People just came out because they loved him," Rep Josh Gottheimer said.
Outside the service, Patersonians lined up along Main Street to thank one of their own.
"He never forgot where he came from. He fought for the people who lived here and the people who didn't live here," one resident said.
Pascrell was later laid to rest at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery and Mausoleum in Totowa.