Friends and neighbors were in shock Sunday over the loss of a dedicated family man who died in a fire at his Woodbridge home.

Firefighters responded to the fire at Joe Rafele?s home in the early morning hours, but were unable to save him. Neighbors say flames engulfed the back of his home. Investigators are looking into the cause of the blaze.

Friends remember the Big Ragu, as he was affectionately called, as a loving father of two and a big Green Bay Packers fan. A neighbor says she?s in disbelief that her Saturday night outing with the victim for her husband?s birthday was her last one with Rafele.