Students, colleagues, friends and family filled Benton Chapel on Wednesday to honor and remember Pierre and Marie Colas.

Colas, an accomplished archaeologist and assistant professor at Vanderbilt, was killed at the age of 32 earlier this semester during an attempted robbery at his house in East Nashville. His sister, Marie, died a few days later at Vanderbilt Hospital after suffering injuries from the same attack.

Director of Religious Life Gay Welch opened the service.

"We are here today to celebrate the life and legacy, to comfort one another and seek the strength to move forward," said Welch. "We are thankful for their lives and memories and will not let the fire of their presence go out."

Those who knew Colas shared stories and made speeches, some remembering him for his scholarship, some for his guidance and everyone for his kindness, devotion to loved ones, humility and appreciation of life.

"He was our everyday's moment of happiness, and he would want us to remember him as such," said friend and colleague Sergio Romero.