Laura Lee Whalen, 79, of Middletown, Delaware, passed away surrounded by family at her home on Thursday, June 11th.
Laura was a high school graduate of Delaware High School in New Castle, Delaware. She played the French horn in the school’s marching band and even traveled with them to perform in the New Years Day Parade in Pasadena, New Jersey, 1963. Laura worked as a secretary for the Bell Telephone Company from 1965 to 1974 and served as the administrative assistant to the bank manager of Wilmington Trust Company for 29 years before retiring in 2009.
Laura was a member of Immanuel Church in Wilmington for 60 years. She was very active in Women’s Ministry and was a proud champion for unborn children. She was very active in anti-abortion causes and served on the executive board for Door of Hope for 6 years. Laura loved her country and was a patriotic supporter of our military service members and veterans!
Having written hundreds of poems, Laura was a prolific writer. She wrote poems for and about many in her life: coworkers, family and friends. She was an excellent artist and singer, performing in the choir at Immanuel Church for many years. She was very supportive of her husband’s ministry as an elder and deacon at Immanuel for the past 50 years!
She is preceded in death by her sister, Nancy Tabor.
She is survived by her husband, Michael Whalen; her children, Cherie (David) Strong, David Whalen, and Suzanne Whalen; her grandchildren Sean, Gavin and Zavier Whalen; and her sister, Charlene Nafaros.
A funeral service will be held for Laura at Immanuel Church (2414 Pennsylvania Ave. Wilmington, DE) on Wednesday, June 24th. Service is at 11AM, friends and family may begin calling at 10AM. A luncheon will follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, Laura’s family is asking for donations to the Door of Hope in Wilmington, Delaware.
