A funeral Mass was held for Rep Bill Pascrell, who recently died at the age of 87. The service was held at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson.

To honor the life of the longtime congressman, family members were joined by leading Democrats from Washington, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies and Rep. Jamie Raskin.

Pascrell served 14 terms in Congress.

But before taking that post he had been a high school teacher in Paramus, a state Assembly member and mayor of Paterson.

Everyone on hand noted his allegiance was to New Jersey and his hometown of Paterson.

“I’m shaken up by the loss of Billy Pascrell,” Raskin, of Maryland said. “He was feisty and cantankerous and he fought hard for the cops and the firefighters and for working people and the environment.”

Former Gov. Jon Corzine agreed.

“He had the personality of a fighter but he was doing it for other people and you can’t ask for more than a lifetime of service,” Corzine said.

Another on hand for the service was former congressman, 94-year-old Charlie Rangel.

“Bill Pascrell was one of the most exciting dynamic outspoken members of Congress that I ever met,” said Rangel.

MORE: Power & Politics: Remembering Rep. Pascrell Jr.

During the service, Pascrell’s three sons spoke emotionally of their father. They spoke of a dad who was direct and not impressed with titles or money. A father who was their guide through life.

“He would tell me, apply yourself David always be proud of where you come from. Never do anything that could harm your good reputation..most of all never quit,” David Pascrell said.

Pascrell didn’t take his first elected office until he was 50. He would win a state Assembly seat, become Paterson mayor and then go off to Congress. Before that, he was a high school teacher in Paramus.

One of the congressman’s enduring accomplishments surrounds Paterson’s Great Falls. Because of his work on Capitol Hill, the site was made into a National Park.

It was an accomplishment noted by the current mayor and native of Paterson, Andre Sayegh. He said that he knows Pascrell's style served the congressman and Paterson well.

“The man would eat sleep and bleed Paterson - with one 'T.’ He always made a point to spell it correctly and made sure everyone else did,” Sayegh said.

Pascrell’s death leaves a void in Congress - one that will be filled on Thursday when Democratic county leaders in the Ninth District choose who will fill that seat. The front runner is state Sen. Nellie Pou.