Gabrielle (born Gabriel James) Gunden, 21, of Sellersville, Pa., died unexpectedly Nov. 10, 2025, in Goshen, Ind., leaving family and friends devastated. She was deeply beloved and a good friend to many. Her friendliness and contagious sense of humor brought joy to the lives of those around her.
Born Jan. 22, 2004, in Sellersville, Pa., Gabrielle grew up the youngest of three siblings. She enjoyed many happy times with her family in Pennsylvania and Indiana and looked forward to annual family vacations in Maine.
Gabrielle was a junior at Goshen College, majoring in social work. She wanted to pursue a career where she could make a positive change in people’s lives. Before Goshen, she studied history at Temple University in Philadelphia, and in 2022 she graduated magna cum laude from Dock Mennonite Academy, where she earned an award in technology and made many lifelong friends.
Gabrielle had many hobbies, including listening to music on vinyl records, shooting hoops with friends, analog film photography and learning about ancient history. She enjoyed cooking and eating delicious food and was often found cooking late-night batches of fettuccine alfredo. She spent a lot of time gaming with friends on the computer she designed and built.
Gabrielle worked and volunteered in humble ways, including cleaning at the Souderton Ten Thousand Villages store and Dock Mennonite Academy. She also volunteered at both places and participated in service projects at Bethany Birches Camp in Vermont and Academia Menonita Betania in Puerto Rico.
She was a baptized member of Zion Mennonite Church in Souderton, Pa. and enjoyed fellowship and activities with friends at Blooming Glen Mennonite Church in Hilltown Township, Pa.
She is survived by parents James and Suzanne Gunden; siblings Erica and Michael Gunden; grandmother Esther (Martin) Clymer; uncles Eric Clymer, James Marshbank and Geof Landis; aunts Elizabeth Gunden and Mary Jean Gunden; and cousins Andrew, Ashley (Joyce) and Finn Landis.
The service will be at 11:45 a.m. Jan. 3 at Zion Mennonite Church. Livestream: zionmennonite.org/worship/live-stream.
