Loyola will hold a public wake, funeral service and celebration for Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt on Wednesday and Thursday.
The university announced Monday that Sister Jean, Loyola’s beloved nun who died Thursday at 106, had requested that her services be open to the public.
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A wake service will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Loyola’s Madonna della Strada Chapel on the Lake Shore Campus, followed by public visitation from 5:30-10 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Madonna della Strada Chapel, with overflow space in Rooney Hall and Mundelein Center.
Both services will be livestreamed at LUC.edu/sisterjean.
A community reception to celebrate Sister Jean at Loyola’s Damen Student Center will follow the funeral, starting at 11:30 a.m. Thursday.
The burial will be private, and Loyola requests no filming or photography inside the chapel during the services.
Loyola will provide complimentary parking at its main parking structure at 1110 W. Sheridan Road.
Loyola did not cancel classes Thursday, saying in its announcement that “Sister Jean always put learning first.” But it will allow professors to cancel classes at their discretion so that students can attend the funeral and will excuse student absences from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday for those whose classes are held.
Tributes have poured in since the death of Sister Jean, who became a national sports icon for her support of the Loyola men’s basketball team during its NCAA Tournament runs.
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Former President Barack Obama tweeted last week: “March Madness won’t be the same without Sister Jean. Thinking about the Loyola University Chicago community and everyone who loved this remarkable woman.”
Former Loyola and current Oklahoma men’s basketball coach Porter Moser posted a lengthy remembrance on X, saying: “I will be talking about Sister Jean for years to come, her unparalleled positivity and energy for life. To the best of my ability, I will be sharing her purpose to help others. And from time to time, I will be praying to her … ‘Good and gracious Sister Jean, I miss you and (am) glad you are home!’”
Loyola has set up an online form for people to share their memories of Sister Jean.