Business senior Sydney Jones was “energetic, fun to be around, loved family and spirited.” Her family and loved ones wrote this, along with other prayers and memories, on her Web site after she died Thursday of a pulmonary embolism.

Jones’ funeral was held in her hometown of Sioux Falls, S.D. on Monday with members of the Creighton community in attendance.

At Creighton, Jones’ life was celebrated at a memorial service held at St. John’s Church on Monday. Approximately 50 members of the Creighton community attended the service where students, faculty and staff were invited to share their memories of Jones, and her impact on their lives. One staff member spoke of what a bright light Sydney was during her work in the Admissions Office. A student said Sydney always had a smile on her face.

Throughout Jones’ battle, the Creighton community surrounded her family offering prayers and continued support, said the Rev. Andy Alexander, S.J., vice president for University Ministry.

“I was very touched by the presence of our students at the hospital last week when Sydney was so critically ill,” Alexander said. “They were a tremendous support for the family on several levels. The family loved having the support of Sydney’s friends around them. They were powerfully supported by the obvious faith and prayerfulness of our students.”

During this time of remembrance and reflection on Jones’ life, Alexander said it is of utmost importance to recognize that everyone grieves differently.

“Don’t judge your own grief or the grief of others – that is, don’t say it ought to be different. Some of us go silent. Some of us cry. Some of us deal with it privately,” Alexander said. “Others of us need to talk it through. For some of us, the loss is so devastating, it takes a long time. For others of us, we are able to recover sooner.”

Alexander said all grief is connected, and the unresolved grief from losing someone in your life can be connected to the amount of grief you feel when losing another loved one. This can also have an effect on the way you handle grief in contrast to someone else.

In addition to recognizing that people will grieve differently than those around them, it is important to seek the outlets available to you to express and understand that grief, especially your faith, Alexander said.

“It is also good to recognize that God didn’t do this. The first tendency many of us have is to seek out someone to blame for our loss. God seems like a good one to blame for doing this or not preventing it. It is good to recognize that God isn’t a big playground monitor. The terrible losses we experience grieve God as well. That is why, during a time of grief, it is good to turn to our faith tradition or to other believers for strength. The Christian tradition offers us hope and faith in the midst of loss,” Alexander said.

Also available on campus is the Center for Health and Counseling located in the Harper Center. Appointments for support and help are available Monday and Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Tuesday- Thursday, 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

To donate, the family requests memorials be sent to:

Sydney Anne Jones Memorial Fund

Catholic Foundation of Eastern South Dakota

523 N. Duluth Ave.

Sioux Falls, SD 57104