Former IL Firefighter Dies from COVID-19 Complications

Editor's note: Firehouse initially reported that Fred Felella, Jr. was currently with the Sugar Grove, IL, Fire Protection District, but the chief of the agency announced that Felella had previously served with the department as a volunteer/paid-on-call firefighter from 1994-2007. We apologize for the mistake.

A former Illinois firefighter died Sunday from complications of COVID-19.

Former Sugar Grove Fire Protection District firefighter Fred J. Felella Jr., 58, had been battling the virus for three weeks, according to a GoFundMe page created by his family to celebrate him. Felella had been on a ventilator and was showing improvement. But after coming off the ventilator for 30 minutes, his condition quickly deteriorated.

"His kidneys and liver completely shut down," the GoFundMe page stated.

Felella's daughter was contacted to say her last goodbyes to her father. The ventilator was removed, and he passed away after 30 minutes.

"Freddy Jr wanted a celebration of his life instead of a (funeral), so at a later date that will happen when we have normalcy," the GoFundMe page added.