Solemnly gathered together in the Taylor Chapel to honor Ilir Çopani, the sounds of weeping and the wail of a family member resonated throughout the chapel as stories and kind words were spoken about Çopani.

Çopani, a mechanical engineering major and first-semester freshman from Tirana, Albania, was killed last week in a car accident.

From the number of attendants and the soft cries that filled the chapel, it seemed apparent Çopani touched many lives.

“I’d rather not be here, I prefer that Ilir were still here” said Daniel Vincent, a member of Ilir’s sponsoring family.

For all those who spoke at the service, they described Çopani as a spiritual, bright, loving and cheerful young man.

“He was developed spiritually beyond his years,” Vincent said. “He was a strong man, much stronger than I am.”

Vincent, who sponsored Çopani while he was on his mission and helped him get into BYU-Idaho, considers Çopani an adopted son. He spoke of Çopanis missionary work, as many of the other speakers did.

Serving in the Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission Çopani took up the task of learning Spanish, adding the knowledge to his ability to speak Albanian, English and Italian.
“Ilir did many good things with life, and I am convinced he will continue that path in heaven,” Vincent said.

Those who weren’t as intimately attached to Çopani as Vincent was also spoke highly of him and his character.

Rachael Whitaker, a sophomore from Beaverton, Ore., and a member of Çopani’s religion class, described Çopani as a person “who knew the most about the gospel and stood out.”

Miguel Alba, a sophomore from San Antonia, Texas, also had high praise for Çopani, even though he had only known him for five weeks.

“He had a surprising impact on me,” Alba said. “[And] a strong spirit.”

While tears were shed, the atmosphere did not necessarily reflect a feeling of despair for Çopani’s future in the next life, but rather a feeling of loss, said President Kim B. Clark.

One thing that did bring a smile to many faces was the knowledge they will see Çopani again and that he lived his life to the fullest.

“He was too good to be here,” Whitaker said.