POCATELLO — A special event was held at Gate City Elementary School to honor and remember 13-year-old Sena Gunnell after she tragically passed away in a drowning incident in Bear Lake on Saturday.
The Bear Lake County Sheriff’s Office received multiple 911 calls around 6 p.m. Saturday regarding a missing girl on the East Shore of Bear Lake. Dispatching rescue boats to the area within minutes, emergency responders located the girl unconscious and not breathing in the water. Despite their best efforts, Sena was pronounced deceased at 9 p.m. at Bear Lake Memorial Hospital in Montpelier.
The death of a loved one, especially one so young, can have a devastating and profound impact on their family members, friends and other loved ones. Processing grief can take time and be especially hard on the younger population, who may be experiencing an intense level of sorrow that was previously unknown to them.
Healing those aspects can be difficult, but with the guidance of parental figures, teachers and mentors, the mending process can begin.
Thanks to the contributions of people like Carolee Gagnon, who organized the remembrance event at Gate City Elementary on Monday, friends and loved ones of Sena can take some peace in knowing that the community stands with them during this difficult time.
Gagnon organized with the School District 25 superintendent and put out the word through social media to hold an event at the school to honor Sena. Green ribbons, Sena’s favorite color, were placed across the school grounds as well as at a nearby The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building.
At 7 p.m., Sena’s friends and loved ones, including her sister, assembled at the school to tie the green ribbons in a show of love and solidarity with the Gunnell family.
“I think what motivated me most was I couldn’t stop thinking about it and my heart was just so sad at what it must be like,” Gagnon said. “I couldn’t stop thinking about her friends, the girls that age and her sister’s age and how they would process such a tragic event. I just really felt like they needed to have an outlet and a way to feel like they were doing something. I think it’s more for the kids, the girls their age, that were struggling and hurting over the experience and maybe not knowing how or to what to do about it. It’s a way to process grief, to let the kids know that they had support and let the family members know that they had support.”
Those that knew Sena best will recognize the positive impact she had on their lives and the spirited zeal she had for life in following her passions and heart.
“Sena was a bright and vibrant soul who loved animals, exploring the outdoors, playing an abundance of musical instruments to include the piano, the ukulele, the clarinet and the oboe,” Sena’s obituary stated. “During a recent trip to Taiwan to visit her grandparents, Sena discovered the enchanting sound of the ocarina and fell in love with playing it. Sena’s adventurous spirit and zest for life were evident in everything she did from creating beautiful drawings to exploring the world. She had a deep passion for animals to include taking care of her pet gecko, Izzy and her fish, Bilius.”
Sena is survived by her loving mom and dad, older brother Logan, her sister Xela and her little brother Halden. Sena shared a deep connection and bond with Halden, who is special needs, and was a protector and loving guide in his life.
“In addition to her love for animals, the outdoors, and music, Sena had a curious mind and a thirst for knowledge,” Sena’s obituary stated. “She was an avid reader, a competitive runner and aspired to be a theater performer and enjoyed the exploration of different languages and cultures and ways of life through various avenues. Sena’s adventurous spirit and kind heart touched the lives of everyone she met, and her memory will live on in the hearts of those who loved her.”
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stake center at 2140 Satterfield Drive on Saturday.
Viewings will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday at Wilks Funeral Home located at 211 W. Chubbuck Road and prior to the service at the church on Saturday beginning at 9:30 a.m. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. at the Grace Cemetery in Grace.
Those looking to contribute to funeral expenses or through donations of gifts, flowers or by planting a tree can do so through Sena’s Wilks Funeral Home obituary page at wilksfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/sena-gunnell .
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