Lindenwood international student Marianne Olyslager-Maldonado was removed from life support today, and a memorial service will be held on campus this afternoon, according to an email sent by Lindenwood University Public Relations.
She had been in critical condition at St. Louis University Hospital since early Sunday, when she was involved in a car crash on Interstate 70 near downtown St. Louis.
Olyslager-Maldonado was a junior and business major from Honduras. She was one of the four international students from Lindenwood who was injured in the accident.
The email said Olyslager-Maldonado has been surrounded by family, friends and loved ones ever since the accident. In addition, it said that Emin Hajiyev, the director of the Office of International Students and Scholars, has been at the hospital since the accident.
Hajiyev said Olyslager-Maldonado is an “other-centric person who deeply cared about her friends, family and university community.”
The email encouraged faculty and students to, “take this opportunity to remember Marianne as the vibrant and motivated person that she was and provide our thoughts and prayers to the family.”
Lindenwood will honor the family’s request and hold a Catholic mass at 4 p.m.Wednesday in Sibley Chapel, where all students, faculty and staff are welcome.
Joe Cusumano, the director of the Counseling Resource Center, will give information about grief counseling that is being provided on campus after the mass.
The Student Counseling Resource Center will provide counseling in the Wellness Center, on the top floor of Evans Commons, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. this week. No appointment is needed.
