The times and dates for visitation, funeral and memorial Mass have been announced for Erik Nielsen, a University of St. Thomas sophomore who suffered a brain aneurysm and died Tuesday, Dec. 9, at the Hennepin County Medical Center.
The visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 7075 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines, Iowa, 50266.
The funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1627 Grand Ave., West Des Moines, Iowa, 50265.
Directions to the services can be found on these three websites: Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Sacred Heart Church and Hamilton’s Funeral and After Life Services (Hamilton's on Westown Parkway).
A memorial Mass will be held at 8:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15, in the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas on the university’s St. Paul campus. The campus carillon bells will chime from 8:25 to 8:30 p.m. that evening in Erik’s memory.
Erik’s parents, Tim and Beth Nielsen, have asked members of the St. Thomas community who are coming to the services to wear something purple. “We would love it if students wore something ‘St. Thomas’ if possible so our friends and family could see what a wonderful community Erik chose to be part of,” they said.
Members of the St. Thomas community who are in need of someone to talk to are welcome to contact Campus Ministry, (651) 962-6560, or Counseling and Psychological Services, (651) 962-6780.
