Wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, mentor were all words used to describe the late Thelma Urban at a memorial service held Wednesday night at the Tamaqua Sports Stadium. But the two words used by every single speaker were "true teacher."

Urban, a language arts teacher at Tamaqua Area High School, died Monday after a sudden illness, at the age of 40.She left behind a husband, Mike, and two children, Sean and Violet.She also left behind hundreds of students whose lives she impacted in a positive way.Almost two dozen of those students, some reaching back to Mrs. Urban's first years of teaching at Tamaqua, spoke during the memorial service. Each remembered her as a positive, compelling influence someone larger than life, who fought hard for the underdogs.Opening remarks were offered by Tamaqua High School Principal Steve Toth, who will "always remember Thelma as endlessly looking for the way to reach every student, especially those who were struggling."He also remembered the way "happiness shone forth from her when she picked up her two children, in the high school parking lot after school."Her husband, Mike, wanted the more than 350 people in attendance to know "just how excited she was about her students. Sometimes, the look on her face and the excitement in her voice made me jealous - jealous that I wasn't in her class. Every day she taught us to laugh, learn and love each other. If her students believe in themselves as much as she did, they will all go on to do great things."Many of the speakers offered readings from literature they learned to love thanks to Mrs. Urban, while some sang in her memory. Charles Hansler, a 2009 graduate, brought nearly everyone to tears when he offered a reading of "O Captain! My Captain!" by Walt Whitman.Hansler prefaced the reading by explaining the poem's use in the film "Dead Poet's Society," "a story about a larger-than-life, much-loved, English teacher who must leave his students far too early. Like Mrs. Urban, he taught them how to live life to the fullest."As the sun slipped behind the bleachers, fellow Tamaqua high school teacher Adriane Drum had everyone light the candles they were given when they entered the stadium."Thelma always had a smile, laughter and a positive outlook that was contagious. She was always a light in the darkness."She urged everyone to be "a beacon of hope and comfort for others, just as Thelma was for so many."Olivia Morrison, a 2015 Tamaqua graduate, ended the program with an a cappella version of "Amazing Grace."As she took the podium, the blue sky turned to pink and then a fiery red. The colorful spectacle was "proof that Mrs. Urban is here," sniffed Morrison, "She was always so fashionable, just look at that sky." Photo galleryfrom the event: http://www.tnonline.com/gallery/remembering-mrs-urban