Hannah Wilson’s funeral will be celebration of life
FISHERS, Ind. (WISH) – Family and friends are preparing to say goodbye to Indiana University senior Hannah Wilson, 22.
According to court documents, Wilson was reported missing by her sorority sisters. Her body was found in rural Brown County last week.
Daniel Messel, 49, has been formally charged with murder.
Indiana University says it will offer a moment of silence in honor of Hannah at this year’s commencement ceremony on May 9.
A university spokesperson says they are working to finalize the details of the private ceremony where Wilson’s family will receive her undergraduate diploma.
Wilson was getting ready to start a new chapter in her life. With graduation right around the corner, her family says she was planning to pursue a career in psychology.
She was passionate about the LGBTQ community and was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority.
Plans for her funeral have been finalized Tuesday with services scheduled to take place in the auditorium of Fishers High School on Saturday.
“We were contacted by the funeral home. The family was seeking a larger venue to host the ceremony and the services and it really made perfect sense for us from the standpoint of partnership,” said Beverly Smith, Hamilton Southeastern School District.
Smith says Wilson was well beloved in the community. Wilson graduated from HSE in 2011. The district is expecting a large turnout to celebrate Wilson’s life.
“There will be a lot of memorabilia, a lot of pictures and music,” said Smith. “Things that actually celebrate and commemorate her life so I’m imagining that we will be expecting a large showing.”
Last weekend, thousands of people came out to honor Wilson’s memory at a balloon release in Noblesville and at a vigil in Bloomington.
“We lend support and give anything that we can at this point to serve,” said Smith. “We offer prayers, we offer our thoughts, and it is a very difficult time for the entire community. Our hearts are broken and we certainly stand in solidary with the community and family at this time.”
Wilson’s family spent Tuesday at a private viewing.
If you would like to help with the memorial, the family says contributions can be made to the Indiana University GLBT Alumni Association Emergency Scholarships Campaign or the Indiana University Alzheimer’s Disease Center.
The Hannah Wilson Memorial Fund raised more than $24,000 as of Tuesday night. Donations will help to pay for Wilson’s younger sister Hayley’s first year tuition at IU.
Any additional details regarding community services for Hannah Wilson will be posted here.