Over 400 students, faculty and administrators gathered at Egan Chapel for a mass in remembrance of sophomore Kristen Duhamel who died Saturday morning.
The mass took place Saturday afternoon following Duhamel’s death which was a result of injuries from a car accident. The accident took place at about 1 a.m. on the Merrit Parkway near Greenwich, according to a Fairfield University Press Release.
Speakers at the mass included Duhamel’s freshmen year roommate Kat Barnet ’10 along with University President Father von Arx.
“Our community is deeply shaken to lose a valued member of the undergraduate student body,” said von Arx in a press release. “We invite everyone to pray for Kristen, her family, and her friends.
“On behalf of the University, I extend my sincerest condolences to Kristen’s parents,” said von Arx.
Sophomore Class President Jeff Seiser spoke at the mass as well. Although the Fairfield community was brought together for tragic reasons, Seiser still managed to see the positive in the situation.
“Yesterday was a very sad day for me and my classmates. However, it comforted me to see the way we all came together at the memorial service,” said Seiser. “It shows what a strong bond exists between us.”
May Mejia ’09 was Duhamel’s RA and attended the mass along with most of the RA of Jogues.
“To hear the story of what happened that night from some of her close friend makes you think how this can have happened to anyone of us,” said Mejia. “When I think of the affect a tragedy like this has in our community I think that it involves everyone.
“I feel that even those who did not know her faced the thought that anyone could lose a love one in a few seconds,” said Mejia.
Cathy Aldi ’08, another Jogues RA, stated, “We all wanted to come out and support her friends at the mass.”
The wake will take place Wednesday at Stapleton Barry Holdredge Funeral Services in Cranston R.I. from 6 to 8 p.m. The funeral mass will be held Thursday at St. Charles Borromeo in Providence R.I. Transportation for students who wish to attend will be provided, according to an announcement by Mark Reed, Vice President for Administrative and Student Affairs.
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