A funeral service for Jesse Farber, the Tamaqua man who was missing for over a decade before his remains were found last summer, was recently held from the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home.

Before the service, Farber took one final ride through Tamaqua in a horse-drawn carriage. It was led by a police escort and was followed by family and loved ones.

His mother, Norma Jean Fritz, described the service as “deeply personal, emotional and beautiful.”

“The service itself reflected who Jesse was,” Fritz said. “His remains rested not in a traditional casket, but in a treasure chest adorned with a bronze heart lock, surrounded by a forest-inspired arrangement of greenery.”

A family friend read moments and memories of Farber penned by his mother, and a brother-in-law talked about the impact Farber had on those who loved him.

“Rain fell throughout the entire day,” Fritz said. “To many of us, it felt as though heaven was crying alongside us as we said goodbye.”

Fritz said that she and her family lived with questions, hope and heartbreak for more than a decade.

“Saturday was a day to grieve our loss and finally lay Jesse to rest. Now, we will begin the next chapter: celebrating his life, his spirit and the love he left behind,” Fritz said.

Farber’s children received portions of him so they will always have a part of him with them.