Laura Faith Parker, 53, of Winona Lake, Ind., passed away at 4:25 a.m. Monday, May 12, 2014, at her residence.

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 BA in Computer Science.

She was born on June 18, 1960, in Hartford City, Ind., to the late James Martin Jernigan and Faith Elaine (Charnley) Jernigan. On Feb. 23, 1980, she was married to the love of her life, Jeffery Urbane Parker, who survives in Winona Lake.

Laura is also survived by a daughter: Sara (Joe) Ruesewald, Chicago, Ill.; sons: Ross (fiancé Elizabeth Strater) Parker, Chicago, Ill.; and Martin (fiancé Courtney Flamion) Parker, Fort Wayne, Ind.; a brother: James (Terri) Jernigan, Hartford City, Ind.; three sisters: Jennifer, Christy and Martina Jernigan, all of Indianapolis, Ind.; and Mary Ann (Robert) Cockerel, Avon, Ind.; a brother-in-law: Michael Underwood, Fairmount, Ind.; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and a sister: Elaine Underwood.

Visitation will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Rd., Warsaw, Ind., with a Rosary Service at 7:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 16, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 125 N. Harrison St., Warsaw, and celebrated by Father Phil DeVolder. Burial will follow with a graveside service at Oakwood Cemetery of Warsaw.

Memorial donations in Laura’s name may be directed to Melanoma Research Foundation, 1411 K Street, NW Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20005; or to Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice, P.O. Box 1196, Warsaw, IN 46581-1196.

Online condolences may be sent through the Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home website.