article: Hundreds of relatives, friends and strangers have gathered to bid an emotional farewell to the 23-year-old man who perished in the gas explosion and building collapse in New York City last month. Nicholas Figueroa's mother, Ana, was among more than 200 mourners to attend the funeral for her son, who was on a second date at a sushi restaurant in the city's East Village when he was killed. Carrying a red rose and wearing a button featuring her son's image, she wept as she watched his casket being loaded into a hearse outside the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus in Manhattan. Mr Figueroa's father, Nixon, who supported his wife throughout the funeral, told mourners: 'I'm here but I'm broken. My son is broken. My wife is broken. It hurts... It's heartbreaking for everybody.' Scroll down for video . Farewell: Nicholas Figueroa's father, Nixon (center back), and brother, Neal (front right), were among the pallbearers carrying the 23-year-old's casket out of the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus after his funeral . Grief-stricken: Carrying a red rose and wearing a button featuring her son's image on her top,  Mr Figueroa's mother, Ana (pictured), wept as she watched his casket being loaded into a hearse outside the church . Tragic: Mr Figueroa (left), a former model and bowling lane employee, was settling the check for himself and his Bowlmor Lanes colleague at a Sushi Park restaurant in when the building exploded and collapsed (right) Speaking at the Upper West Side church, the 52-year-old father added: 'We're here to show the love we always have for him. I appreciate everybody coming. I'm going to put my son to rest now.' Mr Figueroa, a former model and bowling lane employee, was settling the check for himself and his Bowlmor Lanes colleague at the Sushi Park restaurant in Second Ave. when the building exploded. He was declared missing following the terrifying incident, which gutted three buildings. But last week, his body was pulled from the building's rubble alongside that of 26-year-old busboy, Moises Locon. During Tuesday's service, mourners - including City Council Speaker, Melissa Mark-Viverito - clung to each other and wept as heartfelt speeches were made and 'Ave Maria' rung through the church. Mr Figueroa's brother, Neal, paid tribute to his 'best friend', who had worked as a camp counselor at Manhattan's Asphalt Green sports facility. 'I want to be just like him,' he said, according to NBC. He added: 'I can't wait to have my own little boy, he's going to have the same name: Nicholas.' Casket: Mr Figueroa's father, Nixon, told mourners: 'I appreciate everybody coming. I'm going to put my son to rest now.' Above, pallbearers carry Mr Figuero's casket as his distraught mother (second right) watches . Large turnout: During Tuesday's service, attendees - including City Council Speaker, Melissa Mark-Viverito - clung to each other and wept as emotional speeches were made and 'Ave Maria' rung through the church . Bidding goodbye: Mr Figueroa's brother, Neal, paid tribute to his 'best friend', who had worked as a camp counselor at Manhattan's Asphalt Green sports facility. 'I want to be just like him,' Neal told mourners . The emotionla funeral was held at the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus (pictured) in the Upper West Side . The Reverend Lawrence Ford praised Mr Figueroa for his selfless work as an Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts, saying that his life had been 'cut too short,' according to the New York Daily News. One Boy Scout at the funeral told CBS the victim had shown 'devotion and leadership'. Meanwhile, Paul Culff of Asphalt Green, said Mr Figueroa had 'left an impression' with the facility's youngsters. Mr Figueroa's parents placed a white cloth over his brown casket as a symbol of his innocence. Inside the casket, their son was reportedly dressed in a blue shirt, a checkered tie and a navy vest. Following the service, a number of pallbearers - including Mr Figueroa's father and his brother Neal - were pictured carrying his casket to a hearse in front of  loved ones, who were holding red roses. It was then placed in a hearse and driven away. In addition to Mr Figueroa and Mr Locon's fatal injuries, 22 more people were wounded in the five-story building explosion at 121 Second Avenue. Probe: Mr Figueroa's parents placed a white cloth over his brown casket as a symbol of his innocence. Above, investigators work on the site on April 2 to determine whether charges should be brought over the explosion . Blaze: Firefighters battle the flames following the explosion at the East Village apartment block last month . Former model: Mr Figueroa (pictured left and right) was declared missing following the terrifying incident . Mr Figueroa's date, Teresa Galarce, 22, suffered a broken nose, a broken rib and a punctured lung. She is now recovering from her injuries. It is unknown whether she attended Tuesday's funeral. The explosion also caused fires at 119, 123 and 125 Second Avenue. All buildings apart from 125 ultimately crumbled to the ground, prompting an enormous response from emergency crews. Following the recovery of his body, Mr Figueroa's family had started raising money to help cover his funeral costs and other expenses via a GoFundMe page, which amassed more than $27,000. On Monday, it was reported that a plumber who worked on the building has accused the building's landlord's son of making him illegally tap a gas line ahead of the deadly blast on March 26. The unidentified plumber admitted that he illegally tapped a gas line before the explosion but said he only did so on the orders of the landlord's son, Michael Hrynenko Jr., the New York Post reported. Another victim: Last week, Mr Figueroa's body was tragically pulled from the building's rubble alongside that of 26-year-old busboy, Moises Locon (pictured), who had worked at the sushi restaurant six days a week . Aftermath: Firefighters continue to hose down the site of the fire that gutted three buildings on March 27 . The gas was apparently being siphoned from the restaurant to tenants in the building. Investigators suspect the illegal hookup was switched before Con Ed inspectors visited the building on March 26, and after they left, it was put back, the Post reported. It added that authorities have not yet decided whether to use the plumber's statement against him or if they will get him to testify in exchange for a deal. Neither the landlord, Maria Hrynenko, nor her 29-year-old son Michael, who also goes by the name 'Mischou', responded to the paper's requests for comment. On Monday, it was claimed that a plumber who worked on the building has accused the landlord's son, Michael Hrynenko Jr (pictured), of making him illegally tap a gas line ahead of the deadly blast . Property records show he lives in Sparkhill in Rockland County, New York after moving from 7th Street in the East Village last year, where he lived in an apartment owned by his family. The investigation continues as authorities continue to pick through the rubble at the site. But charges including second-degree manslaughter and reckless endangerment could be brought against anyone believed to have been behind the blast, the Post reported. In August, utility workers found that the gas line had been illegally tapped, Con Ed said. The discovery led the company to shut down gas service to the building for about 10 days while the building owner made repairs. Gas service was restored after the utility deemed it safe. Inspectors from Con Ed visited that building about an hour before the explosion and determined work to upgrade gas service didn't pass inspection, locking the line to ensure it wouldn't be used. The work underway was to put in a bigger line to serve the entire building, according to Con Ed. But 15 minutes after the workers left, the smell of gas was reported. No one called 911 or Con Ed. Instead, Michael Hrynenko and a contractor, Dilber Kukic, opened the basement door to check on where the smell was coming from. When they did so, a massive explosion shot through the building, forcing rubble onto the street and sparking a fire that spread to neighboring buildings. Both Michael Hrynenko and the contractor escaped the scene, but officials later pulled the bodies of Mr Figueroa and Mr Locon, who worked at the restaurant six days a week, from the rubble. The contractor, Dilber Kukic - who is facing unrelated charges of bribing an undercover investigator posing as a housing inspector - declined through his lawyer to comment on the explosion.
highlights: Nicholas Figueroa, 23, killed in gas explosion in the East Village last month .
  On Tuesday, relatives, friends and strangers bid him an emotional farewell .
  Mr Figueroa's father said family was broken over his 'heartbreaking' death .
  Brother paid tribute to 'best friend' whom he will name his future son after .
  And Mother, Ava, wore button on her jacket featuring Mr Figueroa's image .
  Tear-jerking service held at Manhattan's Church of the Holy Name of Jesus .
  Moises Locon, 26, also died in March 27 blast - and 22 others were injured .
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