The late U.S. Rep. William “Bill” Pascrell, Jr. was a dedicated elected official who could fight for issues and political positions close to his heart with justified anger — but never with hatred for people who opposed him.
So recalled Msgr. Geno Sylva, rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, during a funeral Mass on Aug. 28 for Pascrell in the cathedral, the mother church of the Paterson Diocese. The 14-term congressman died on Aug. 21 at 87 after an illness.
Elected officials, emergency services personnel, colleagues, diocesan faithful, friends, and family filled the cathedral to honor Pascrell as a selfless public servant. They remembered the lifelong Patersonian and former mayor of the city, as devoted to helping others, especially those in need.
“If he loved you, there was no extent he would not go to help you. But what made him truly remarkable was that Bill would do all he could to assist you even if he didn’t like you and you might not have liked him,” said Msgr. Sylva, a friend of Pascrell’s and also diocesan vicar for special projects, in his homily. Pascrell, the priest said, always sought to make things right in his anger, which he always “tethered to love.”
Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney was the main celebrant of the funeral Mass, concelebrated by many priests, including Msgr. Sylva. Dignitaries who attended the funeral included U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, also house minority leader; N.J. Gov. Phil Murphy; N.J. First Lady Tammy Murphy; and Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh.
Bagpipers led the procession into St. John’s at the start of Mass.
Pascrell’s funeral was held in Paterson, the city he loved and called home. He attended the former St. George School and graduated from the former St. John the Baptist High School, both in Paterson. His colleagues sometimes called him “Mayor” and “Silky” after his hometown.
“He adored the city’s tapestry of streets and shops and residents, and he toiled nonstop to help make all of them better,” according to Pascrell’s obituary, which can be viewed at the link following this article.
Visitation with the family was held Tuesday at the cathedral. It featured attendance by several dignitaries, including former colleagues, who praised his lifetime of service.
Pascrell served in the U.S. military and taught in high school for 12 years. He was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1987, eventually rising to the position of Minority Leader Pro-Tempore. He was elected Paterson’s mayor in 1990, while in Trenton.
In 1996, Pascrell was elected to Cong-ress. He belonged to several committees, including Ways and Means and Home-land Security. He represented the former 8th Congressional District and later the 9th Congressional District. He represented one of the most diverse districts in the United States.
During the funeral, Pascrell’s three sons, William III, David, and Glenn, spoke, thanking people for their condolences. They also called him an optimist, a teacher, and a devoted father of three, grandfather of six, and husband to Elsie, his wife of 61 years. Pascrell took interest in the stories and struggles of everyday people and neighbors, they said.
William III said his father was “fiercely dedicated to his family, friends, and anyone who needed help.” He said the congressman’s mission was “not to win elections, but to win friends.”
“He always did the right thing. He understood the importance of preserving the honor of the offices he held,” William III said.
At the end of the funeral Mass, Bishop Sweeney offered his condolences to the Pascrell family. He remembered the congressman as “always welcoming” and offering to do “whatever I can do.”
“He walked that journey as a husband, father, and an elected official, fighting that good fight,” Bishop Sweeney said about Pascrell. “We give thanks to God for his life today.”
Also in his homily, Msgr. Sylva said those assembled were praying for Pascrell’s eternal soul — won only by Christ’s victorious battle over sin and death.
“Hope is a person. He’s Jesus Christ. With hope and the Lord, we can face the future without having to know what tomorrow looks like or what awaits us. We know that our lives will not end in emptiness. We have hope in the person of Jesus, who’s alive and is always with us. We know him and trust him,” Msgr. Sylva said. He said to his friend, “Bill, through the mercy of God and the help of our prayers, just get home to heaven.”
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
