Father and son killed in Belleville house fire laid to rest
A father and son who died in a Belleville house fire more than two weeks ago were laid to rest on Wednesday.
MILLSTADT, Ill. – A father and son who died in a Belleville house fire more than two weeks ago were laid to rest on Wednesday.
The Hoffen Funeral Home hosted services for George Pappas Sr., 79, and Pioquinto “PJ” Pappas, 21. The pair, along with Christopher Ellis, 21, all perished in the fire, which happened Oct. 28 in the 100 block of South 13th Street in Belleville.
Loved ones of the victims said the Pappas family was well known in the community. George Sr. had a lifetime membership to the Knights of Columbus and had just celebrated his 79th birthday four days before the fire.
“He was an excellent knight. He was there for his community, his family, his counsel, friends; there was never a bad word spoken of him. Everyone spoke about him in the highest regard,” Brad Cason said.
PJ will be remembered as a man who had a heart of gold and would give the shirt off his back to help those in need. At this point, fire officials say the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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