Services Scheduled For Montgomery Student

The visitation and funeral service for Darion Verner will be held on Saturday at St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church in Aurora, church staff confirmed on Thursday morning. The visitation will be at 10 a.m. and the funeral service will be at 11 a.m. The visitation and funeral service are open to the public.

The Kane County Coroner cited witnesses who said that Verner had played basketball in gym class, went to the locker room and collapsed "for no apparent reason."

The coroner said the determination of the cause of death was pending the results of specialized testing to be completed at a forensic laboratory.

An online fundraiser for Verner's funeral expenses has raised nearly $11,000 in four days.

"Darion will be remembered for his love of basketball, his love for playing the drums, as a son, as a big brother and as a friend to many," Superintendent Dr. John Sparlin said in a statement. "Our heartfelt thoughts are with his family, friends, and our students."

Map showing St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church

Photograph and information provided by Teri Daniels-Mugnaini