The funeral for Rochester Fire Department Lt. John Joseph, who died after a battle with cancer, will be held Wednesday, July 15, in downtown Rochester.
Joseph, known as “JJ,” died July 7 at age 37. The Rochester Fire Department has classified his death as a line-of-duty death.
When and where is the funeral?
Joseph’s funeral Mass will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial in downtown Rochester.
A formal funeral procession is expected to arrive at the arena around 10:30 a.m., with Joseph’s casket transported in the bed of a fire truck.
The service is expected to last approximately two hours and will be livestreamed by Rochester ABC affiliate WHAM-13 and available on local television. More than 1,000 people – including hundreds from the Rochester Fire Department – are expected to attend.
What will be included in the service?
The line-of-duty funeral will include:
Remarks will be delivered by Joseph’s sister, Melissa Joseph, and Matt Murphy, president of Rochester Fire Fighters Local 1071.
The homily will be given by Father Robert Bourcy of Church of the Transfiguration in Pittsford and St. Catherine of Siena in Mendon.
What roads will be closed?
Street closures in downtown Rochester will begin at 8 a.m.
Closures include:
What happens after the service?
Following the memorial service, the funeral procession will travel west on Broad Street to Engine 5 Firehouse, 450 Lyell Ave., where it will pause briefly to honor the station where Joseph was assigned.
The procession will then continue to Mount Hope Cemetery for a private burial.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester Fire Lt. John Joseph funeral: Procession, road closures, service details
Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team | USA TODAY Network
