Funeral Held For Elmhurst Man Who Died In Barcelona

ELMHURST, IL – The funeral service for the 20-year-old Elmhurst man who died earlier this month in Barcelona was held Tuesday morning.

Jimmy Gracey's service took place at Elmhurst's Visitation Catholic Church, 779 S. York St.

Spanish authorities told media that they found Gracey's body March 19 in the sea off Barcelona, a couple of days after he went missing.

"Everything points to it being an accident, not a criminal act," a police spokesperson told CNN.

Gracey, a junior at the University of Alabama, was visiting friends who are studying abroad in Barcelona. He had been last seen leaving a nightclub near the shore.

Gracey, son of Taras and Therese Gracey of Elmhurst, was a graduate of St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago. His four siblings are Elmhurst residents.

"Jimmy took the role as big brother very seriously," his godmother, Beth O'Reilly, said during the service, according to Fox News. "He loved each of his siblings and had a unique relationship with each of them. He loved playing shinny hockey in the foyer, basketball in the driveway, jumping on the trampoline and sunny days at the lake filled with boating and tubing during the day and hanging together at the fire pit during the night."