Laura Faith Parker, 53, Winona Lake, was called by her Heavenly Father at 4:25 a.m. May 12, 2014, at her residence. She was born June 18, 1960, in Hartford City, to James Martin and Faith Elaine Charnley Jernigan. On Feb. 23, 1980, she married the love of her life, Jeffery Urbane Parker, who survives in Winona Lake. She received a diagnosis of melanoma in 2001. Buoyed by the grace of God, the power of prayer and a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, she was an inspiration to her family and friends as she continued to live a productive and purposeful life. She especially loved music, attending concerts, traveling with her family and participating in the parish life at Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Warsaw. She graduated from Blackford County High School in 1978, and was a 1982 graduate of Ball State University with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. She and Jeff were the proud and loving parents of three children: Sara (and spouse Joe) Ruesewald, Ross (and fiancé Elizabeth Strater) Parker, all of Chicago, Ill.; and Martin (and fiancé Courtney Flamion) Parker, Fort Wayne. Also surviving are her brother, James (and spouse Terri) Jernigan, Hartford City; three sisters: Jennifer, Christy and Martina Jernigan, all of Indianapolis; and Mary Ann (and spouse Robert) Cockerel, Avon; a brother-in-law, Michael Underwood, Fairmount; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; and many friends whom she loved and who loved her in return. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Elaine Underwood. In a blink of God’s eye we will all be together again. Services will be a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 125 N. Harrison St., Warsaw, with Father Phil DeVolder officiating. Burial is in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw. Calling is from 3 to 5 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, with a rosary service at 7:30 p.m. ***** Memorials to Melanoma Research Foundation, 1411 K Street, NW Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005; or to Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice, P.O. Box 1196, Warsaw, IN 46581-1196 and would be appreciated by her family. Condolences may be sent via www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com
