GROVELAND — Jaquelyn “Jackie’’ Kastrinelis, the performing artist and Pentucket graduate who died unexpectedly on a cruise ship in Northern Australia on Feb. 3, has made the final journey home.
The Kastrinelis family said her body has been returned to Groveland. Calling hours and memorial services are planned for tomorrow and Saturday.
Calling hours will be tomorrow from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Groveland Congregational Church, 4 King St. Funeral services are scheduled at the church for 10 a.m. Saturday.
Kastrinelis, 24, was discovered dead in her cabin aboard the Regent Seven Seas Voyager, where she worked as the cruise ship’s lead singer. At the time, the ship was docked in remote port of Darwin, Australia. An autopsy has been performed, but the cause of death remains inconclusive.
She was the daughter of Groveland fire Deputy Chief Michael Kastrinelis and Kathleen Kastrinelis, a former member of both the Groveland Board of Selectmen the and Pentucket Regional School Committee.
Kastrinelis’ death has shaken the close-knit Pentucket community. Tributes to the Pentucket Class of 2006 graduate have sprung up across the world. According to an entry on the Facebook page “We Remember Jackie Kastrinelis,” people who knew her, and even some who didn’t but have been touched by her story, have been keeping candles lit in their windows each night until “Jackie comes home and is laid to rest.’’
About 100 people braved the frigid weather for an outdoor candlelight vigil in her memory a week ago at Pentucket Regional High School. The event included prayers and the playing of recordings of the talented vocalist singing several of her favorite songs. At the same time, a similar vigil was held in New York City, where Kastrinelis touched the lives of many as she pursued her dream to become a professional vocal and stage performer.
Last week, Regent Seven Seas Voyager coordinated all of the ships in the cruise line’s fleet in a worldwide moment of reflection led by the cast of performers Kastrinelis worked closely with since joining the cruise line in 2011.
The Kastrinelis family has asked that in lieu of flowers, people wishing to honor her contribute to the Jaquelyn Kastrinelis Fund for the Performing Arts, c/o The Pentucket Arts Foundation, P.O. Box 254, West Newbury, MA 01985.
Money in this account will be used to support the artistic endeavors that were most meaningful to Kastrinelis during her time at Pentucket.
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