Loyola’s graduate counseling program lost a beloved student who, according to peers, was dedicated to her studies and family.
Regina Oehmig, a dual degree graduate student in pastoral studies and counseling, died Friday, March 27 from a brain aneurism she had suffered the night before.
Oehmig was 57-years-old and is survived by her husband and four children who were all by her side when she died.
Oehmig recently left her family to come to New Orleans and finish her masters degree after completing many of her classes from her hometown of Lookout Mountain, Tenn. Assistant counseling professor Laura Steen said she was so close to finishing and they are looking into how to award Oehmig her degree posthumously. The Honors in Counseling Award will also be named after her.
Oehmig, who went by Gina, has left her mark in the counseling program.
“Gina was the type of person that lived for today, if you never saw her again you were just happy that you got to meet her,” said graduate student Arturo Freyre.
Steen believes Oehmig was headed down the track of play therapy, which is when children use play a therapeutic healing process. Oehmig’s peer Michelle Hernandez agrees.
“Gina loved children, and mine were no exception,” said Hernandez. “The first time Gina came over to study, she got the greatest joy out of rocking my baby.”
Hernandez said that Oehmig later used this time of playing with her baby for her play therapy class observations.
Oehmig’s peers all agree that she had an innocence about her that made her loving towards every person she met; always ready with a “its going to be ok, you’ll be fine” and a helping hand.
“She was probably one of the most beautiful people I ever met,” said counseling graduate student Megan Bryant.
A memorial service was held on Thursday for Ohemig. There was a signature book and Ohemig’s favorite accessory, scarves, to decorate in her honor; all of which will be sent to her family.
Ohemig was buried on Wednesday in Lookout Mountain.
John Adams can be reached at [email protected].
