Émile Zola, a towering figure in French literature and a champion of justice, passed away on September 29, 1902, in Paris at the age of 62. His death, attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning from a faulty chimney, has since been speculated to be a deliberate act. His funeral, held on October 5, 1902, drew thousands, and his remains were later interred in the Panthéon, a testament to his lasting legacy.