Gerane Doris Sellers

A celebration of her life will be held at 2pm on June 23 at Olinger Chapel Hill, 6601 S. Colorado Blvd., Centennial, Colorado.

Gerane was born at her family home in Washburn, Maine to Warren and Doris Rundstrom (née Bugbee) on Monday, August 18, 1930.

She was a “County Girl,” hailing from Aroostook County, Maine. Gerane displayed the marks of royalty from an early age; she participated in the Miss Potato Blossom pageant at the Maine Potato Blossom Festival and spoke often of her family's legacy from the British royal line. As a young woman, she worked on the switchboard at the New England Telephone and Telegraph company, in a post-WW2 era when millions of telephone calls back and forth to Europe routed through Presque Isle.

Along with her eldest children Karen and Chris, she took part in the time-honored agricultural tradition of potato picking each autumn. It was backbreaking work, from a frosty morning start into a hot afternoon, culminating in barrels of Maine taters!

She married Larry Sellers in 1961 and together raised Karen Brassington (Dick), Christopher Sellers (Sue), Kelly Smith (Ted), Carol Spaar (Steve) and John Sellers (Lara).

Gerane traveled the world with her family, from Maine to Georgia, Goose Bay Canada and the Philippine Islands to Indonesia and Denver. She fished in the South China Sea, spent Christmas in Australia, vacationed in Bali, and explored her roots in Sweden, Scotland and the UK.

Family was at the center of Gerane’s world; she delighted in spending time with her children and all the people in her world. “Nan,” as she was known to so many, loved to hear stories about their lives, and to share a good bit of gossip. She was a broad set of shoulders and a soft landing place for children and young people; they could tell her anything and she would never blink an eye, never pass judgment. Along with that, she had opinions about a variety of topics, and was unflinchingly herself in situations.

She adored hot fudge sundaes, and always believed in eating dessert first.

Makeup, jewelry, and fashion were always top of mind for Gerane; she loved to look good. She had a beautiful head of hair, never applying color in her 92 years. Her door was always open to those who needed a hug and a plate of spaghetti.

Gerane enjoyed long-time friendships and stayed connected with cousins from childhood. She and Betty Burkhart spent more than four decades as friends, she corresponded with her school friend Arlene Cole, and stayed in touch with her cousin Ardis Humphrey and sisters-in-law Carlene Rundstrom and Judie Rundstrom throughout the years. She and Cari Sellers were friends until the end of her days.

Gerane was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved brothers Phillip and Ronald. She is survived by a large, loving family who adores her, including five children, 12 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren, along with their assorted spouses, boyfriends and girlfriends, special friends and exes, along with friends too many to count.

In lieu of flowers, please care for a geranium of your own, or donate to a charity of your choice in her memory.