CHICAGO (WLS) — Funeral services have been planned for Sister Jean, the beloved chaplain for the Loyola University men’s basketball team, who passed away last week at the age of 106.
Sister Jean’s wake and visitation will take place Wednesday at the Madonna della Strada Chapel, on Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus.
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The chapel will open at 4 p.m. The service will begin at 5 p.m., and the visitation will be from 5:30 to 10 p.m.
Her funeral Mass will be Thursday at the same chapel.
The chapel will open at 9 a.m., and the Mass will begin at 10 a.m.
Rooney Hall and Mundelein Center on Loyola’s Rogers Park campus will be overflow space.
There will be a community reception at 11:30 a.m. at the Damen Student Center.
According to Loyola, the services will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, as seating in the chapel is limited. The wake and Mass will be available to watch via livestream, Loyola announced.
Livestream links of the visitation and funeral will be posted on Loyola’s website.
Burial will be private.
Sister Jean served as the iconic chaplain to the Loyola University men’s basketball team since 1994, and died Thursday at 106 years old.
But she was so much more than that to students and staff now mourning her loss.
Sister Jean became an international celebrity during the 2018 NCAA March Madness tournament, when the Ramblers reached the Final Four.
She took on the role of chief cheerleader.
A room at Loyola’s downtown campus even has QR codes to listen to Sister Jean’s story in her own voice.
Sister Jean was born on Aug. 21, 1919.
For her 100th birthday, Jean Dolores Schmidt received an apostolic blessing from Pope Francis.
Last year, turning 105, she received a proclamation from then-President Joe Biden, recognizing her lifetime of service.
She joined members of the Ramblers team to throw out the first pitch at a Cubs game, as well.
She even made a live appearance on “Good Morning America.”
Through it all, she remained a humble servant of God and a beacon of hope to others.
