An honor guard escorted Rep. Bill Pascrell’s casket down the steps of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, following an emotional funeral Mass Wednesday. His family remembered with love and gentle humor the veteran politician, who died last week at the age of 87.
Members of Pascrell’s family addressed a congregation packed with friends and dignitaries, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Gov. Phil Murphy and his wife Tammy Murphy.
The family praised their mom, Elsie, for her unflagging support. “As we all know,” Glenn Pascrell said, “there would be no Bill Pascrell without Elsie.” The congregation responded with a standing ovation.
The 90-minute service was led by Paterson Bishop Kevin Sweeney. During the homily, Monsignor Geno Sylva praised the Paterson-born Pascrell for being a fighter, who never succumbed to the hateful division that’s so common in politics.
Pascrell served as mayor of Paterson, was elected to the Assembly and then to Congress in 1996. Known for his take-no-prisoners style, Pascrell was instrumental in the Paterson Great Falls being declared a national park.
Outside, his friends recalled Pascrell’s devotion to Paterson and his constituents.
“He was tough as nails,” said Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh. “And he’d be willing to challenge people to go outside in a fistfight. … I’m not saying he wasn’t a statesman. But he was an urban warrior. He came from Paterson, he came from the streets.”
Law enforcement officers and firefighters, lined up in the street, recalled how Pascrell famously brought home the bacon for them, from Washington.
“He loved us more than anybody else,” Essex Sheriff Armando Fontoura said. “He provided more funding for us than anybody else. He fought like a lion for all of us. I always loved him for that. I always appreciated that. I always thanked him for that.”
Members of the 9th Congressional District’s Democratic committees will gather Thursday to decide who will take Pascrell’s place on the November ballot.
