Funeral Services For North Arlington Mayor Joseph Bianchi Set

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Funeral services for the late North Arlington Mayor Joseph Bianchi are set.

A viewing will be at the Armitage Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Dr., in Kearny from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday. A funeral Mass will be held at Queen of Peace Church at 10 a.m. Monday, North Arlington Police stated in a tweet Thursday.

Bianchi, 77, was a 26-year member of the North Arlington Volunteer Fire Department and responded to the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. He died Monday of cancer that could be traced back to the attack. (See related: Bergen County Mayor, Firefighter Dies Of 9/11-Related Cancer)

Bianchi continued to perform his duties as mayor even as he battled the disease.

"He continued to perform his duties, even while battling the cancer," Borough Administrator Stephen Lo Iacono said. "He didn't come into the office as much, but he worked from home and kept up with things."

Bianchi was a "blue-collar" guy, a lifelong borough resident, and a hard worker, Lo Iacono said. He owned Pal Joey's Unisex Haircutters in town since 1965.

Bianchi was elected mayor in 2014. He was married to his wife, Catherine for 42 years. He is survived by her, three children, and eight grandchildren.

Bianchi was an Army veteran who was honorably discharged in 1960.

He was a member of UNICO, the largest Italian-American service organization in the United States, and the North Arlington Rotary.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

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