Members of the DePauw community bow their heads as they listen
to live music at the Memorial Service for Megan Hammerle.
Hammerle, a first-year DePauw student, passed away
on Febuary 13, 2015 in Indianapolis.
SAM CARAVANA / THE DEPAUW
Those walking into Megan Hammerle’s memorial service Tuesday night were not wearing the all-black outfits usually associated with a service of this kind—instead the sanctuary was filled with color.
Attendees of Tuesday night’s “Celebration of Life” service, which took place at 5:30 p.m. in Gobin United Methodist Church, were encouraged to wear their favorite colors, to symbolize the spirit and individuality that Hammerle brought to all she was a part of.
The service opened with a prayer, which was followed by a performance of “Sounds Like Somewhere” from first-year vocalists Michaela Belcher, Miranda Dafoe and first-year Alex Bushkin on the guitar.
President Brian Casey presented readings from Michael 6:6-8 and 1 Timothy 4:12.
DePauw University’s trombone ensemble performed “How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place” by Johannes Brahms and first-year Michaela Belcher, Elizabeth Aquilar, Megan Montgomery and Caesar Tobar-Acosta, as well associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry Daniel Gurnon, read memories of Hammerle to those gathered.
Throughout the service, which was advertised as “casual,” as people were encouraged to show up late and dress as needed, there were times for prayer and reflection, with laughter and music intermixed.
Gurnon, who knew Hammerle as a Science Research Fellow and taught her in class, was one who glimpsed Hammerle’s quieter side.
“Like many of you, I only got a glimpse of Megan’s potential before she passed, but I am grateful to have gotten that glimpse,” he said.
However, a tale shared by Aguilar showed just how loud Hammerle could get. The story was based around “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen, which was most-appropriately included on the playlist for the opening and closing slideshow. According to Aguilar, she, Hammerle and friends headed to Starbucks after a poetry slam last fall. Heading back across campus, Hammerle broke into song.
“She started singing ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ and we all joined in, because, why not?” Aquilar said.
Aquilar remembered Hammerle’s love of 80s music, anime, Japanese poetry and video games.
“While she was too young to have left us, Megan didn’t burn out,” Aquilar said. “Rather, she burned brightly. She has left us with the remarkable story of a girl who could never stop dreaming of her future.”
Belcher had known Hammerle from the days before DePauw, when they both attended Lebanon High School. Her remembrances included a Star Wars themed film the two made together, in which Hammerle was pegged to represent Princess Leia.
“We tried to put her hair into two buns on the side of her head, but Megan’s hair was really short and fine at the time, so it didn’t really work out,” Belcher said. “We compromised, and settled on two small bowlst hat kind of resembled bagels, and mashed them over Megan’s hair. We had no way to attached them, so we had Megan’s sister Sarah hide behind her and hold the bowls up.”
Belcher also recalled her spirited “book conversations” with Hammerle, in which each girl would read an excerpt from a book to the other in the form of a conversation.
Belcher credited Hammerle with her love of Walk the Moon, tandem story writing and “Supernatural.”
“Even though I’ll never get to finish watching “Supernatural” with her, or make no-bake cookies with her, or graduate DePauw with her or have her be one of the bridesmaids at my wedding, I’ll see her in the little things. Like when I watch Disney movies, or when I go to church.”
Roommate Montgomery had many stories of late-night talks and midday ranting.
“I would come in after a five hour softball practice and walk in and say ‘I need five minutes to rant’ and she’d swivel around in her chair and say, ‘okay let me get my phone—ready? Go!’”
Montgomery said she would have returned the listening ear had it been necessary but that “[Hammerle] was hardly one to complain, and that’s what makes me cherish the memories I have with her.”
A mix of DePauw students, faculty and staff attended, with representatives from Hammerle’s hometown of Lebanon, In., also in attendance.
Family friend Isaac Seppel commended DePauw for holding the memorial service.
“The Hammerle’s are the finest people and my heart goes out them and the fact that this happened,” Seppel said. “She was so young, but she was a truly remarkable young woman.”
Tobar-Acosta, who also spoke, thought that memorial was a true representation of Hammerle.
“This was an appropriate tribute—having her playlist in the background and having these people speak about her.”
In her closing remarks, Belcher touched on what she believes those who knew Hammerle—and even those who didn’t—should take with them from her memory.
“She was one of my best friends, and if there’s anything you should learn from her, it’s to be true to yourself, and as one of her favorite quotes puts it, ‘never give up on your stupid, stupid dreams.’”