LAKEWOOD — Services for the Stollsteimer family were held at the Bear Valley Church in Lakewood this morning.
Friends lined the aisles, crowded into doorways and filled the lobby of the church, comforting family members as they made their way down to their seats.
More than 800 people stood, sat and prayed together as they remembered Randy Stollsteimer, 34, his wife Crystaldawn, 31, and their three boys, Sebastion, 12, Darrian, 9, and Cyrus, 7.
All five were killed instantly in a car crash in Thornton last week.
“Randy, Crystal, Sebastion, Darrian and Cyrus passed away as they lived – together,” Rev. Jeffrey L. Kane, said.
Tears were muffled by moments of laughter as a slide show turned through family photos of the boys in oversized baseball uniforms, backyard cookouts, visits with Santa Claus and showing Crystaldawn in what one family whispered was her favorite poke-a-dot dress.
Smiles broke out when Kane spoke of Crystal’s laugh and Randy’s once shy demeanor. The middle school sweethearts were married in 1997, and have been inseparable since, family said.
One family member described the three boys as a trio that put everything to a vote.
Renee Torrez was the last family member to speak. She recited a poem that she said expressed her family’s emotions.
“When the sun comes out, that’s us telling you good morning…When it rains outside that’s us telling you we miss you,” Torrez said. “Listen to us, look for our signs, for we are guardian angels.”
Jordan Steffen: 303-954-1794 or jsteffen@denverpost.com
