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 .