More than 100 police officers, firefighters, and EMTs surprised 9-year-old Parth Patel, who is diagnosed with cancer, with a hero-themed parade from his house on Nelson Avenue to School 27 on North Street in Jersey City on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016, followed by a pizza party in the auditorium. Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal
Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal
JERSEY CITY — A viewing will be held tomorrow for the 9-year-old boy who died of cancer days after first responders in Jersey City surprised him with a hero-themed parade.
Viewing hours for Parth Patel will be from 10 a.m. to noon at Riotto Funeral Home in Jersey City. A service for the fourth grader will be held during the viewing, which will be followed by cremation at Garden State Crematorium in North Bergen.
Parth suffered from Ewing Sarcoma, a form of cancer that typically occurs in areas around the bones in children and young adults. The illness had prevented him from attending school full-time in the weeks before his death.
The boy’s story captivated the hearts of locals when first responders dressed up as super heroes on Wednesday and surprised him with a parade from his home to his school. Jersey City Police Officer Adrien Murrell, who lost her brother to cancer, heard Parth was terminally ill and organized 100 police officers, firefighters and EMTs to take part in the parade.
“I’m really happy because he has been upset and not feeling so well the past couple of days and now he looks really great,” Parth’s older sister, Hileri Patel, said during the parade.
Parth was outfitted with his own Jersey City police uniform and given a ride in the Batmobile. His classmates from School 27 cheered during the event, which included a parade from Parth’s Nelson Avenue home to the North Street school.
He died three days later.
Riotto Funeral Home is located at 3205 Kennedy Blvd.
