First-year College student Lauren Munchak died March 5 of cancer at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington D.C., where she was admitted three weeks before due to continued medical complications.
Lauren Munchak, of Clifton, Va., was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma during her senior year of high school in 2004, said her mother, Mary Munchak.
Lauren Munchak's status as a student was deferred for one year in 2005 because of her medical condition.
"She found a lump on her left thigh," Mary Munchak said. "She had a medical deferment [from the University] because she found out she had this disease."
After a round of chemotherapy and limb salvage surgery, Lauren Munchak was able to enroll in U.Va for the 2005-2006 school year, Mary Munchak said.
Lauren Munchak was involved in Fighting, Overcoming, and Responding to Cancer Everywhere and the Catholic Student Ministry.
"She was very excited to be on FORCE, and she was raising a lot of money for Relay for Life," Mary Munchak said.
Munchak's mother said life at the University was very important to her daughter.
"She managed to finish her first semester and did really well," she said. "She said if she quit [school] she'd be a quitter, and she wouldn't know when she could come back."
Lauren Munchak, who lived in Watson residence hall, was particularly interested in Italy and cooking and would often make her suitemates baked goods, explained Mary Munchak.
"She loved Italian and she took it first and second semester," she said. "She loved to cook."
Lauren Munchak will be remembered especially for her kindness and her strong Catholic faith said her roommate, first-year college student Kristen Holmes.
"Every time someone asks me to describe her I think of the Spanish translation of [the phrase] 'practice what you preach'," Holmes said. "It actually translates literally as 'preach by your example' and I think that describes her perfectly."
According to University spokesperson Carol Wood, Counseling and Psychological Services is offering support and counseling opportunities for grieving students who knew Lauren Munchak.
Lauren Munchak leaves behind her parents, a brother graduating from Penn State University this year and a sister who is a high school senior.
A viewing was held Friday, March 10. A mass was held the following Saturday.
Muchak's suitemates in Watson are currently planning a memorial at the University.
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