The Laramie community gathered together on Thursday, Feb. 22 to celebrate the life of Sabrina Geller, a University of Wyoming student and ROTC cadet who was found deceased near Vedauwoo Recreation Area Feb. 13, at St. Matthews Cathedral. At her funeral, she received military honors and some of the people who knew her in life shared some of their favorite memories with her.
St. Matthews Dean of the Cathedral, The Very Reverend Rick Veit, who led the community in the service, said that they were all ultimately gathered in celebration, albeit a sad and unfortunate one. He said the Laramie community was gathered also to celebrate the impact that Sabrina had made on all of their lives.
“The impact that I think God made on the world through Sabrina in her short life to share love, to make an impact on other people’s lives, to serve our country. [This moment,] it’s one none of us want in our life, but it’s one of the most important celebrations that we have,” Reverend Veit said during the service. “We’re not only celebrating her life here, but what I believe is her continuing life in heaven.”
The people she knew personally in attendance also spoke of Sabrina’s impact on their lives after the service at the reception. From all different chapters of her life, she made long-lasting impressions on the people she came across.
Darby Funk, who grew up with Sabrina in Hanna, Wyoming, said that some of their favorite memories with Sabrina happened in school.
“In Hanna, we have these things called school families, and each teacher got a group of kids and we’d just spend time together as a bonding exercise. Me and Sabrina were in the same school family and we’d dance to “American Kids” by Kenny Chesney all the time together and we’d ask the teacher to play it and be the only one’s up dancing during our family time,” Funk said. “That was one thing about Sabrina. She’s always in the mood to dance and just be happy and laugh.”
Seth Fens, who went through basic training with Sabrina in 2020, also shared his favorite memory with her.
“You know, no matter how crappy the situation was, how hard it was, she was always smiling. She just always said, ‘Okay. Let’s do this.’ She just always had a smile on her face,” Fens said. “She always tried to pick other people up. She was a great friend, a great soldier and she will be missed greatly by everyone that ever met her.”
Before the conclusion of the service, members of the United States Military came to show their gratitude for Sabrina’s service and present her parents with an American flag. A 21 gun salute and the playing of “Taps” sounded in the air outside of St. Matthews Thursday afternoon in acknowledgement of her dedication to her country.
