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NORTH ATTLEBORO - Sometimes you just don't know what to say.

Sometimes, there are no words, no answers, no reasons.

Sometimes, the only thing you can do is share your grief and remember.

As hundreds gathered Friday morning at the funeral for Alex Blase, the 17-year-old North Attleboro High School junior who died of a brain aneurysm earlier this week, they leaned on each other, on their faith and on Blase's spirit to say goodbye.

"Nothing in the world prepared us for this," said the Rev. David Costa, who officiated at the funeral Mass. "Here's Alex, this great guy, so young, so good and so full of life and love. We stand, screaming and silent, why? Nobody can give us an answer." Blase was an incredibly popular student when he died Monday, four days after being stricken by an aneurysm while playing basketball at the YMCA.

Blase's reputation as a kind, generous and genuine young man was evident Thursday at his wake, where friends lined up for hours to pay their respects to his family.

Friday morning's service at St. Mary's Church on Park Street was another testimony to a promising life cut tragically short.

It was impossible to tell how many of Blase's classmates and friends - many of whom were comforted by their parents as they wept throughout the service - were there. The church was lined rows deep with standing mourners behind the packed pews.

A bus from the North Attleboro Parks and Recreation department was decorated with messages of "We miss you Alex" and "Be a hero. Donate life."

That last sentiment served as a reminder of Blase's decision - unknowingly made the same day he fell ill - to become an organ donor.

"Little did he realize that gift of life would be evident so soon," Costa said. "Because of him, the joys that he knew, somebody else will be able to know that love that Alex knew so well."

Remembered by family as a free spirit with a great sense of humor, Blase was the son of James and Nancy, twin brother of Jimmy and older brother of Jack.

A respected athlete, his death has inspired an outpouring of support from the local sports community and his high school.

Costa, addressing the young mourners, likened losing Blase to experiencing a blackout, and he urged them to process their emotions so as to remember Blase and heal from their loss. "Suddenly, we're cut off, plunging into darkness," Costa said. "We may feel lost, a little helpless. But mostly, we're a little angry. We want to know what happened. We want someone to blame. We search high and low for some kind of logic.

"Alex is among us. His spirit, his joy, his strength have been so evident these past few days. Perhaps the best gift we can give Alex is to keep that spirit alive."