Penn State students and families gathered Friday at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center for a service to remember 22 Penn State students who have died since April 2006.

The service, which was led by the Center for Ethics and Religious Affairs (CERA), consisted of several multi-faith readings and song selections from the Penn State University Choir.

University Park Undergraduate Association President Jay Chamberlin read the names of each student that had died and a bell chimed after each name on the list.

Bob Smith, director of CERA, said the service aimed to celebrate the lives of the deceased and to mourn their loss. About 200 people, including the choir, attended.

"The main purpose of this was to recognize those who were a part of the Penn State family and let their families know that we do care about their children," Smith said.

Smith said he hopes that the service can help the families reach some closure.

Almost half of the families that lost someone chose to attend.

"For some families, it's too recent," Smith said. "It is very difficult for them to come back; it's like asking them to grieve again."

The families that did attend carried white roses in memory of their loved ones and filed out of the worship hall in tears.

Vice President of Student Affairs Vicky Triponey, who attends the service every year, was also visibly upset.

"This just shows that Penn State is clearly a caring community," she said. "We are here for each other even in times of awful sadness."

Smith said he was struck with the tremendous sense of grief that the families felt.

"No words can adequately express their pain and sorrow," he said.

Among the students remembered on Friday was Langston Carraway, who was found dead in his apartment last June after being stabbed. Former Penn State football player LaVon Chisley is charged with Carraway's murder.

Anthony Cicerchia, a junior, was also remembered at the service. Cicerchia died as a result of injuries sustained when he lost control of his Jeep in December.

Trista Martin and Kristy Murray, Penn State graduate students, also lost their lives in a car crash just before Thanksgiving. They were killed when Martin swerved into oncoming traffic to avoid a deer.

Friends of Julie Kovar also came to the Pasquerilla Center to remember the Penn State junior. Kovar died of liver failure March 28 while studying abroad in Sydney, Australia.

Alicia Anderson, of the Lutheran Campus Ministry, had some advice for grieving students.

"Find people that can listen, either here at the spiritual center or through other faith communities," she said. "It's important to know that it's OK to be sad and to grieve." Anderson said she feels the service will bring some hope to families dealing with loss.

After a final song from the choir, Carl Derk, a campus minister for the Coalition For Christian Outreach, urged those in attendance to try to go forward with their lives.

"Time and grace heal the wounds of sorrow and renew the spirit," he said. "You can't allow grief to consume you."