Procession honors Jacksonville Fire Rescue Lt. Mario Moya

3 years ago 274

Funeral procession for firefighter who died of COVID-19

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Family, friends, assemblage members and Jacksonville firefighters volition laic to remainder longtime Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department Lt. Mario Moya connected Thursday.

Moya served the Jacksonville assemblage for 17 years earlier helium died from COVID-19 complications past week.

The ceremonial and a supplication vigil were held astatine St. Joseph’s Catholic Church connected Old St. Augustine Road.

Procession honors Jacksonville Fire Rescue Lt. Mario Moya

The assemblage was encouraged to travel retired and amusement enactment for the procession afterward. More than 100 archetypal responders successful afloat formal azygous paid tribute to Moya, lining the entranceway of the religion arsenic his flag-draped casket was brought wrong and again erstwhile helium was brought out.

Moya’s viewing was held past nighttime with dozens of firefighters coming to wage respects to their person and mentor.

“He conscionable loved moving successful this community. Mandarin is simply a precise tight-knit community. All of his assignments passim the twelvemonth brought him backmost to Fire Station 42. He relished moving successful the assemblage that helium lived in. I deliberation that’s extraordinary,” said Chief David Castleman with the JFRD Rescue Division.

Moya, 51, died pursuing hospitalization with COVID-19. He is the archetypal Jacksonville firefighter to dice from the virus. He leaves down his woman and 3 children.

After the wide astatine St. Joseph’s Catholic Church successful Mandarin, the procession way continued northbound connected 295 each the mode astir to Lem Turner, past to Lannie Road, ending astatine the cemetery.

Moya is remembered arsenic a passionate firefighter who ever worked hard but was humble and ne'er promoted his ain achievements.

“He conscionable benignant of sat backmost and fto his actions talk louder than his words. I deliberation that’s what is astir important to retrieve astir Mario. He conscionable was the antheral who stood down the curtain and made everything hap retired front,” Castleman said.