New Jersey is half-staffed as Congressman Bill Pascrell’s services begin

NEW YORK — New Jersey flags will fly at half-staff Tuesday in his honor Congressman Bill Pascrellas his memorial services begin.

His visitation will take place from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson. The funeral will take place on Wednesday at 11 o’clock.

Pascrell’s final resting place will be at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery and Mausoleum in Totowa. The longtime congressman he died last week at the age of 87.

“A lifetime dedicated to our great nation”

Pascrell’s family announced his death on social media on Wednesday. The cause of his death was not immediately released, though it followed a month-long illness that had him in and out of the hospital.

“As a representative of the United States of America, Bill fought until his last breath to return to the job he loved and the people he loved. Bill lived his entire life in Paterson and had an undying love for the city where he grew up and served. he is now at peace after a life dedicated to our great nation America,” his family wrote.

Pascrell graduated from Fordham University and served in the US Army for six years. He was first elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1988, and then was elected mayor of Paterson in 1990. He continued to serve in Congress in 1996.

Who could replace Pascrell on the November ballot?

Pascrell, who represented New Jersey’s 9th Congressional District, was widely expected to win re-election in November. Had he won, he would have been the oldest member of the US House of Representatives.

District Democratic committees will now hold a convention to name a successor and elect a new candidate for the November ballot.

Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh was reportedly on the list of possible replacements, but he ended his bid on Monday. The list also includes state Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, who was close to Pascrell, state Sen. Nellie Pou and Bergen County Commissioner Tracy Silna Zur.