A Life of Service
Laura grew up in Selbyville, where a childhood love of nature and animals set the course for her life. She excelled in the local 4-H club, graduated from the University of Delaware, and completed training at the Delaware State Police Academy on her way to a career with the Delaware State Parks — first as a park ranger, and later as assistant superintendent, retiring from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.
Service ran through everything she did. She was a CPR instructor, worked with Safe Kids, judged culinary competitions at the Delaware State Fair, supervised a WORCOA site, and helped at the Senior Center in Ocean City. She was a member of the Sussex County and Delaware State Fire Police Associations, and before returning home, a member of the Cheswold Volunteer Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary.
Her service to Selbyville
When Laura retired, she came home to Selbyville — and got right back to work. She joined the Selbyville Volunteer Fire Company and completed her fire police training alongside her father, Ken Madara, himself a longtime Selbyville fire police officer. Serving side by side with her dad, she directed traffic and protected crews at emergency scenes across our district.
She served as president of the Selbyville Ladies Auxiliary until the time of her passing. Anyone who worked with Laura knew her gift: she had a knack for motivating people to accomplish greater things, and she wanted her hometown to be everything it could be. She was always the first to volunteer her time — and somehow still had plenty left for family and friends.
The Laura we remember
Laura loved life at full volume. She tailgated and camped her way through NASCAR weekends, never missed a Jimmy Buffett concert when she could help it, and was happiest surf fishing, kayaking, or bicycling along the coast she grew up on.
She was a crafter and a seamstress, a Civil War reenactor, and the kind of cook who made getting together with family and friends an event. And she was devoted to her faithful dog, Angus, who was rarely far from her side.
Her legacy continues
Every year, the Selbyville Volunteer Fire Company holds a Back-to-School event in Laura's honor, providing needed school supplies to kids in the Selbyville community. It's exactly the kind of thing Laura spent her life doing — looking out for her hometown's children — and it keeps her spirit of service alive each new school year.
She impacted many lives and lived a life to be proud of.
Rest easy, Laura. We have it from here.