Funeral services set for the three people who died in Belleville house fire
As George Pappas Jr. goes over the aftermath of the Belleville house fire that killed his father, brother and a close family friend, he recalls how his dad was always the person who advised the family on how to handle an emergency.
George Pappas Sr., 79, his son, Pioquinto “PJ” Pappas, 39, and Christopher D. Ellis, 21, all perished in the fire on Oct. 28 in the 100 block of South 13th Street. Belleville Fire Chief Stephanie Mills said Monday the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
“When we have a family emergency problem, my Dad is the one you asked, ‘What do we do next? Or what do we need to do?’ He always handled all that stuff for my mom,” George Jr. said of his father.
“He’s the man.”
Here is the funeral information for the three victims:
▪ The visitation for George Pappas Sr. and “PJ” Pappas will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13 at the Hoffen Funeral Home at 220 W. Washington St. in Millstadt with a funeral service at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. A short service by the Knights of Columbus will follow the funeral service.
▪ A memorial service for Christopher Ellis will be held by his family at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16 at Redeeming Love of Christ Church at 621 South Belt West #617 in Belleville.
George Pappas Jr. said his father had a lifetime membership to the Knights of Columbus.
“He used to volunteer a lot with the Knights of Columbus,” George Jr. said. “That was one of the biggest sources of pride he had.”
To honor his father’s memory, George Jr. said he wants to become more active in the Knights of Columbus “because I know it was something important to him.”
George Sr. had turned 79 just four days before the fire. His son said that birthday party was one of the “last real good memories we have…”
“My mom took all of her pictures with her phone, just like normal,” George Jr. said. “And the pictures from it are gone.”
George Jr. also shared memories of his brother and Ellis.
“Anything you asked the guy to do, I mean he did it. He always helped,” he said of his brother, “PJ.”
“He loved playing video games.”
Pioquinto was named after his maternal grandfather.
George Jr. also said Ellis, like his brother, would help with the family.
“If you asked him for help with something, he’d be the first one down there to help you,” he said.
George Jr. said Ellis was good to his niece and a “good dad” to his great-nephew.
“That’s the most important thing you could possibly be,” Pappas said.
How to help house fire survivors
Along with George Jr., three others survived the fire: his mother, Josephine; his niece, Jazmine Jenkins and his great-nephew, 1-year-old Danté Ellis, who is the son of Jenkins and Christopher Ellis.
Jenkins escaped the burning house by jumping out of a second-story window while holding onto Danté, George Jr. said. She landed on a car parked below the window.
George Jr. said it was heartbreaking when he and his mother wanted to go back into the house to help the others escape the two-story, frame house but the fire and smoke was too intense.
“How do you tell your Mom not to do the thing you’re wanting to do?” he said.
His mother turned 72 on Friday.
Three GoFundMe accounts have been established to help the survivors of the fire:
▪ “Support George Pappas’ Family After Devastating Loss”
▪ “Support for Pappas Family After Fatal House Fire”
▪ “Support for the Family of Christopher Ellis”
George Jr., 43, said his mother has been staying with his sister in Bunker Hill, which is about 45 miles north of Belleville in Macoupin County, and his niece has been living with her grandmother in Collinsville. They are still looking for a permanent home.
George Jr., who is a manager in tire sales with Rowan Tire & Auto Service in Belleville, said the family has been overwhelmed by the support they have received from family members, friends and the general public.
“You don’t ever expect anything like this to happen to you or your family,” he said. “It’s really overwhelming.
“How do you convey the thanks and gratitude we have?” he said. “I’m not going to be able to ever express that enough.”
This story was originally published November 12, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
