Laura Jean Chandler was born on July 14, 1962 in Baltimore County, the daughter of Charles Edward Chandler and Norma Jean Collins-Chandler.  She passed away at home in her sleep on December 15, 2022, of natural causes. She is survived by her two older brothers, Steve and Paul.

In her childhood, Laura attended Cockeysville Elementary School and Cockeysville Middle School, where from a young age she was active in theater arts and music programs.  She graduated from Dulaney High School in 1980.  She went to the Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music in Winchester Virginia.  She graduated in 1984 from the "Bachelor in Music Therapy" program.  She then became a Board-certified music therapist, and worked as a music therapist in several settings, including programs at the Broadmead Retirement Community, Villa Maria, and with her church. She worked for Becton Dickinson in Sparks, Maryland for several years, as a nanny for several children,  "La Petite Academy" daycare at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC), for Giant Food at their store in Timonium, Maryland and as a Caregiver with Avila Home Care. Most recently she served her home church River Church in various capacities, including serving and praying with the lost, the hurting and the homeless in Baltimore City.

In her childhood, she enjoyed the outdoors, biking and hiking with her family. She enjoyed fishing with her father, making trips each summer to the Susquehanna river, just inside the Pennsylvania line. Laura and her family fished from row-boat or canoe, and she learned to paddle and maneuver boats and canoes with grace.

She was a cancer survivor and actively supported fundraisers for the American Cancer Society. She participated in the "Relay for Life" nearly every year in Towson. She and her entire family had a strong passion to support Cancer research because some family members passed away due to cancer. She credits her own miraculous healing to Jesus Christ.

She had a passion for music her entire life.  She took piano lessons, starting from the age of 5 years old. She later learned to play the guitar and organ. She also sang for many years in the choir at Trinity Assembly of God in Timonium. For her, music was a source of joy, and a way to bring joy to others. She brought music and singing into every area of her life and had a particular passion for worship and praise music.

She was tremendously passionate about her Christian faith, and she was active in her church and outreach ministries throughout her adult life, including Trinity Assembly of God, Grace Fellowship Church in Timonium, as a Messianic Jew at Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah Hebrew Congregation, and most recently at River Church Baltimore.

She loved animals throughout her life, and cared for many cats throughout her childhood and adult life. She always sought ways to help people and animals in need. Her entire life was focused on helping others, through her church, and in her everyday life. In everything she did, her heart was looking upward in faith to Christ and outward, full of care and compassion for others.

On Monday, January 16, 2023 (MLK day), from 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M., family and friends will gather to celebrate Laura's life and homegoing at Peaceful Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Center, 2325 York Road, Timonium, MD 21093. There will be a full service at Peaceful Alternatives at 11:00 A.M., led by Laura's pastors and church family from River Church Baltimore. This joy-filled service will honor Laura's passion for worship and her life dedicated to Jesus Christ.

In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Laura may be made to Laura's church home, River Church Baltimore, or to the American Cancer Society.

1- RiverChurchBaltimore.com

Choose the Outreach tab in the drop down menu.

2- American Cancer Society at cancer.org