Memorial mass honors Nenveh Essa

By Megan O'Connor

Students, faculty and family came together to remember Nenveh Essa during the noon mass in the Mission Church Tuesday.

"It is so good that we gather here at the center of the Santa Clara community," said Jack Treacy, S.J., director of campus ministry. "Nenveh would stop in here at the church from time to time."

Treacy and President Paul Locatelli, S.J., presided over the memorial mass for Essa, a senior accounting major and creative writing and communication minor. Essa died in a car accident in Milpitas.

Essa's Aunt, Jini Essa, and her parents, Juliet and Gabriel Essa, were in attendance.

A picture board of Essa, made by her friends at the financial aid office, where she worked on campus, was placed at the altar.

Before the mass, Gabriel Essa knelt in front of the pictures before the ceremony, and wept and kissed the pictures of his daughter.

Around 70 to 80 people gathered with Essa's mother, father and aunt to remember her life. Nenveh's dream of working for Disney and her love of television, especially "American Idol" were both mentioned, while others simply remembered times they spent together.

Marta Chaskelmann, a friend from the financial aid office, shared stories of their time together. Chaskelmann said Essa often spent time at her house and that she would sometimes cut Essa's hair and talk about the future.

"Even at 21 she was so wise, she had so much to offer and touched so many lives," she said. "Now she is a little angel watching out over us."

Chaskelmann said Essa had a close relationship with all those at the financial office. "We were like her second family," she said.

Student body President Jenny Moody, Treacy and Locatelli gave readings during the memorial and Locatelli presided over the mass.

"There is no such thing as an easy memorial service. It is so much harder when someone so young and so vibrant dies," said Treacy.

Essa had been on her way home from picking up her aunt in Fremont on a Friday, her day off from work at the financial aid office, when her car was struck head-on by another car which crossed over a raised median dividing the street.

Essa was pronounced dead at the scene, and her aunt suffered a broken arm.

Contact Megan O'Connor at (408) 554-4546 or moconnor@scu.edu.