Cabrini community mourns on-campus student death

By Jason Fridge
December 13, 2022

A priest leads a group of students in powerful prayer at prayer service in chapel
Fr. David Driesch leads students in powerful prayer at prayer service. Photo by Thomas Ryan.

Content Warning: This article contains information about a student death. Cabrini University is offering counseling services to all members of the community. Please contact Counseling and Psychological Services at 610.902.8561 or counselingcenter@cabrini.edu. The Delaware County Crisis Connection Team is available 24/7 at 1-855-889-7827. 

Update, Dec. 21: A viewing for Lisa Williams will take place Friday, Dec. 30 at the Heritage Chapel at George Washington Memorial Park from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The funeral service will follow at the same location at 12 p.m. Share your condolences and read her obituary here

Update, Dec. 14: Loquitur has confirmed the student who died in her suite in the Cabrini Apartment Complex on Dec. 12 was senior accounting major Lisa Williams. Cabrini hosted a candlelight vigil on Dec. 14 at 5 p.m. in the Mansion’s courtyard. The Radnor Police Department told the Loquitur there is no reason to suspect suspicious or criminal behavior. This is an ongoing investigation.

Lisa Williams (pictured far right) was part of Cabrini’s Catholic Relief Services, CRS. Photo courtesy of Dr. Jerry Zurek.

The Cabrini community received sad news at 11:08 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12, when an announcement was sent to students and faculty via email, regarding a student who died on campus. The senior accounting major was found unresponsive in their resident hall earlier that evening, and local EMT services were quickly alerted to assist with the situation. The cause of death is currently unknown.

According to the message sent to the public, the school is withholding the student’s identity out of respect for their family. There is an ongoing investigation from the Radnor Police Department and coroner’s office.

The University stated in an email that grief counseling will be offered to all students, faculty, and staff through the Counseling and Psychological Services on campus to assist anyone in need.

A follow-up message was sent to students Tuesday, Dec. 13 in the afternoon, which again notified them of available support services. With students dealing with final exams throughout the week, the Center for Student Success announced that students in need of accommodations related to this situation can contact them for academic support.

Cabrini offered a community prayer service at 4 p.m. at the Bruckmann Memorial Chapel of St. Joseph for community members to gather in reflection and prayer. School Chaplain Fr. David Driesch has also made himself available before and after the prayer service for anyone seeking counsel. 

In the meantime, please keep the family and friends of this student in your thoughts and prayers as they begin the process of grieving and healing. 

This is a developing story that is being covered by the Loquitur. Please check back for more details.

Marcus Alvarez and Victoria Emmitt contributed to the ongoing development of this article. 

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Jason Fridge

I am a junior Digital Communication/Social Media major with a Sports Communication minor. I grew up in Lynnwood, WA north of Seattle. Involved on campus at Cabrini as a Student Ambassador, SAAC (Student Athlete Advisory Committee) executive board member, play-by-play broadcaster for Cabrini athletics, and a player on the Cabrini lacrosse team. Aspire to go into sports broadcasting and dream job would be working for a sports franchise/media company either as on-air talent or behind the scenes media member. In my free time I enjoy exercising and can usually be found walking around Wayne listening to a good podcast about sports or history!

You May Also Like

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Perspectives

Special Project

Title IX Redefined Website

Produced by Cabrini Communication
Class of 2024

Listen Up

Season 2, Episode 3: Celebrating Cabrini and Digging into its Past

watch

Scroll to Top
Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap