Lauren Marie Anderson Hadley

6/22/1976 - 5/2/2020

"For to His angels He's given a command to guard you in all of your ways; upon their hands they will bear you up…"

From Psalm 91, v. 11 - 12

Lauren Marie Anderson Hadley was born on June 22, 1976, to Sharon and John Anderson at Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia. She was a vibrant person who exuded joy and smiled often. In her very young years, she demonstrated her joy through pretend play – setting up a make-believe market and acting as a cashier for her family as they purchased plastic vegetables and other imaginary items from her store. She enjoyed playing outside and she always cherished time with family pets. Her love of animals continued her entire life. She demonstrated her adventurous spirit by baiting hooks while standing on the Avalon Pier in North Carolina even though she was too little to cast her own fishing line. She loved music and started going to concerts when she was 13 years old. She ran around outside during the summer until the stars came out and she always kept up with her big brother.

She attended Bethlehem Baptist Academy before transferring to Osbourne Park High School where she graduated in 1994. After high school, she attended George Mason University. She graduated with a degree in Finance in 1998.

After graduating from college she started her own online retail business where she specialized in vintage clothing and furniture. Soon thereafter, she began her career in Corporate Finance. Her stellar work career included jobs at AOL, MCI and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Janelia Research Campus.

Though successful in her career, Lauren's most important role was that of being a mother to Harlow.  She was the light of her life. Lauren provided love, nurturing and security. She also worked to foster an adventurous spirit in Harlow. Lauren would often start a family movie on the television in her bedroom and then find herself pushed to the far edge of her bed so that Harlow and Miracle, the family dog, would have more than enough room to spread out. Lauren shared her own love of music with Harlow. They would introduce each other to new and classic music. In recent years, Lauren took Harlow on adventurous vacations to places like the Great Wolf Lodge, New York's Broadway and Universal Studios. Lauren would also find ways to make their every days lives be more adventurous.

Next to Harlow, Lauren considered her many friends to be treasures of her life. She consistently took time to check in with her friends and share in their respective lives – their highs and lows. Her friends were extended family. Some of her friends knew her as Lauren, many knew her as "Scooter" and all of them knew she was there for them.

Lauren is survived by her daughter Harlow, husband Brian, mother Sharon and stepfather Richard, father John and stepmother Ellen, brother Matthew and sister-in-law Cindy. Her surviving family and numerous friends will cherish her memory.

To honor Lauren's life, her family asks that you please remember to check in with one another. Smile, laugh and be great listeners to your friends and family. Pet a dog. Be joyous and share your joy with others.