Memorial mass gathers students, family, and friends

The Alumni Memorial Chapel was filled with Loyola College students, faculty, and family on Friday afternoon to remember Jason Schaible, Class of 2008, who passed away due to a long fight with cancer in August.

Loyola College President, Fr. Brian Linnane, S.J. presided the Memoriam as a framed picture of Jason smiling in his Loyola rugby jacket sat at the head of the church.

Roommates and friends of Jason spoke throughout the mass, as Patrick Lawrence read from the Book of Wisdom, Alex Semenoff and Kelly Rich carried out the presentation of the gifts, while Paul Bordornaro and Gregg Zavadsky reflected on the beautiful life of their roommate.

One of Jason's closest mentors and praised colleagues while at Loyola was Dean of First-Year Students & Academic Services, Dr. Ilona McGuiness who assisted Jason with anything necessary to continue his studies at Loyola with the least amount of hassle and stress throughout his battle with Lymphoma Hodgkin's Disease. McGuiness spoke about how Jason's service and passion to help others outside of the public eye while receiving treatment for his illness was one of the things that made him so special.

"[Jason] taught us how to live and how to be," McGuiness stated. "We miss his genuine presence in our community more than we can say."

"When Dean McGuiness spoke about Jason as a colleague, it gave his friends and fellow students a whole other perspective of what kind of person he was," said senior Meghan Marinari. "She opened our eyes to the other end of the spectrum just as Jason opened our eyes on our perspective of life."

Stating how deeply moved his was by Jason's funeral back in August, Linnane discussed how Jason's passing was a clear example of what it means to die with Christ. In turn, Jason had lived a life of love in which Jesus did within the Gospels; one with dignity. Linnane also mentioned the necessity to face the mystery of death, especially with someone so young, but also to embrace the lessons Jason had taught us through the words of Christ.

The mood of the mass shifted when Zavadsky took the podium to tell small stories about Jason's antics and fun-loving nature. Reflecting on Jason's humbleness, his addicting personality, and never being satisfied with mediocrity, Zavadsky also read a passage from Jason's daily journal. Zavadsky read, "I told my dad today that he was my hero. And I mean it."

"Gregg's speech was the most moving of the ceremony," said senior Emily Bingham, "It was great to hear from Jason through Gregg's words. Even though Jason is gone, we all know he is still here with us. He inspires us every single day, through his words but also and through his actions while he was with us."

Continuing on, Zavadsky also discussed how we can all strive to be someone like Jason, but never will get there, because he was further ahead than everyone else will ever be. Concluding his emotional speech, Jason's cheerfulness came through, as Zavadsky stated if people knew Jason well enough, he would conclude a speech along the lines of, "Let's Go Devils."

One of the last speeches of the ceremony was from Jason's father, Dr. Vincent Schaible, who thanked everyone in attendance and several others who helped Jason throughout his battle. Schaible spoke emotionally about Jason's life and how he always said that while in attendance at Loyola, it was the best years of his life. While splicing in small jokes and laughter, Schaible closed with a message of encouragement: "let Jason guide you and help you through life."

"It was the perfect timing and arrangement of the speeches," Bingham said. "One minute you are crying and the next minute you were laughing and that is exactly how Jason would have expected it."

"Everyone was personally affected by Jason. I don't think I ever saw him not smiling," said senior Olivia Garrish. "Which is why the memorial was so good because it was personal and intimate, even if you knew him or not."

Adding to the intimacy of the ceremony was the song selection of O.A.R.'s upbeat and optimistic song, "City on Down" which concluded the memorial with a hopeful and spirited emotion. All of Jason's closest friends agree to that being exactly how Jason would have wanted his memorial mass to end, with a sense of happiness and appreciation to life.