Laura Jayne Whaley

Laura Whaley, 38, of Grand Rapids, Michigan traded time for eternity and ran into the arms of her friend and faithful Savior Jesus Christ on March 11, 2026. 

Laura was a cherished daughter, sister, aunt, granddaughter, niece, and friend to many. She found great joy in engaging with her Madison Church community in her role as Director of Administration & Connection. Some may recall memories of Laura from her grade school days at Kelloggsville Christian Elementary and Middle School (class of 2002), South Christian High School (class of 2006), Occupational Therapy program at Grand Rapids Community College (class of 2009), Business Management degree earned through Cornerstone University's Professional and Graduate Studies Program (2015 cohort), and most recently - her two year training to become a Spiritual Director through Sustainable Faith (2025 cohort). Some may know her not by name but simply refer to her as “the cupcake girl” - from a season when she ran her own business as a wedding cake decorator and delighted to create cupcakes with wild flavor combinations and share them with others everywhere she went!

Laura is lovingly remembered by her parents, Garry and Judy Whaley; siblings, Susan and Nick Burner, and Lisa Whaley; nephew, Theodore “Teddy Bear” Burner; aunt, Sharon (Jack) Door; uncle, Larry Visser; and cousins, Jonathan (Jenna) Van Oyen, Michelle (Kyle) McRill, and Nicole (Zach) Kennedy.

The funeral service will occur on Monday, March 16, 2026, at 11 am at Laura's beloved place of work and worship for the past five years - Madison Church: Square Campus, 1441 Madison Ave SE, Grand Rapids, with dear friend and mentor Pastor Andrea Bult officiating. As an artist, floral designer, and lover of all things bright and beautiful, Laura wanted to invite attendees to wear bold colors and patterns - displaying a vibrant hope-filled visual of life's ultimate triumph over death and new creation coming. A lunch reception will immediately follow (all welcome!), two buildings north of the church at Madison Place, 1401 Madison Ave SE. A graveside service for family and close friends will take place at Pine Hill Cemetery in Kentwood. Relatives and friends may visit with the family Sunday, March 15 from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home (Grandville), 4145 Chicago Dr. SW. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Madison Church or Laura's favorite retreat center, The Hermitage.