**Loyola’s Sister Jean to Be Laid to Rest Thursday**
CHICAGO (WLS) — Loyola University’s beloved chaplain, Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, will be laid to rest this Thursday. Sister Jean, who served as the iconic chaplain to the Loyola University men’s basketball team since 1994, passed away at the age of 106.
Her visitation on Wednesday drew students, friends, and lawmakers, including Governor JB Pritzker, to Loyola’s Chicago campus. Those in attendance remembered Sister Jean for her unwavering service, deep faith, kindness, and lifelong commitment to the university community.
“She felt she was, you know, made for this work and made to serve people, and she just did it so very well,” said Michael Murphy, a close friend and director of the Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage at Loyola University. “Because she was so true and so just her way of being, her good humor, her dedication to people, her faith.”
Sister Jean became a household name worldwide during the Loyola Ramblers’ remarkable Final Four run in 2018. Even before that national spotlight, she was a vibrant force of faith and fun on Loyola’s North Side campus. Over decades, she dedicated her career to education and sports, always embracing a faith-forward mindset and welcoming students with an open door.
“She was always eager to talk to students. It wasn’t like, ‘Go away, you bother me,’ or ‘You’re too young,’” recalled Joyce Knight, a friend and Associate Dean of Student Academic Affairs and Advising at Loyola University. “She had an open-door policy, and students would drop by to see her. Everyone wanted a selfie — they still do.”
**Funeral Details**
Sister Jean’s funeral Mass will begin at 10 a.m. on Thursday and will be streamed live on ABC7’s streaming platforms. The chapel at Loyola University will open at 9 a.m. for visitation.
Due to limited seating in the chapel, Rooney Hall and Mundelein Center on Loyola’s Rogers Park campus will serve as overflow spaces. A community reception will follow at 11:30 a.m. at the Damen Student Center.
All services will be open on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the university. Please note that burial will be private.
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