Retired Covenant chaplain Marla Parker passed away in Chicago, Illinois, on April 7, 2024. She was 85.
Marla Anderson was born on August 1, 1938, in Ashtabula, Ohio. She was baptized into the Lutheran church and eventually became a member of First Covenant Church of Ashtabula.
Marla attended North Park College, earning a bachelor’s degree in music education in 1961. She later made a home at North Park Covenant Church, where she served in various roles including as choir director and accompanist, a member of the diaconate, and chair of the board of Christian education.
On April 2, 1966, she married Albert Parker Jr., and they had two daughters. They later divorced.
In 1996 Marla attended at North Park Theological Seminary, pursuing a career in hospital chaplain work. She earned a master’s of divinity in 2000 was ordained to word and sacrament in 2002. She served first as a chaplain resident with Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, then as a hospice chaplain in Lombard, Illinois, from 2001 until her retirement. During that time of service, her goal was to be a calming spiritual presence with dying persons and their families, to listen to them, love and affirm them, and pray with them.
She is survived by daughters Heather Valdez (Eladio) and Katie Parker, and sister Priscilla (Clay) Carpenter.
She was a fond mother, aunt, and friend to many.
Peace be to her memory.
