Our beloved mother, Lauren Vaughan, 79, passed away peacefully on July 15, 2024 in her hometown of Norfolk, Virginia, surrounded by her loving family and friends. Lauren was born in Sydney, Australia to Lawrence Miller of Seattle, Washington and Aileen Heffernan of London, England and Perth, Western Australia. Predeceased by her husband Stuart and sisters, M’Lou and Penelope, our mother’s memory will be kept alive by her loving children: Randy, Kristin, and Adam; step children: Michael and Carey; grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cherished neighbors and friends.

The middle daughter of a Naval Officer, our mother’s childhood consisted of many fond memories shared with her sisters, some of her favorites included her experiences as a child living in Okinawa when her father was stationed in Japan. Her family ultimately returned to the United States after living abroad for several years, settling in Norfolk, Virginia.

Our mom worked hard her entire life and took pride in her strong work ethic, perseverance and independence. Over the years, some of her many jobs included Stanwick Corporation, where she served as the executive secretary and NADEP, where she accepted a position as the only woman working alongside a team of men painting heavy equipment to include missile launchers and F14’s for the United States Navy. At the same time, she selflessly juggled a multitude of second and third part-time jobs in order to make ends meet as a single parent of three children. She proudly retired in 2011 after 20 years of civil service where she last served as medical support personnel at Portsmouth Naval Medical Center.

On September 28, 1996, our mom married the love of her life and best friend, Stuart Vaughan. After close to ten years of courting, our mom and Stuart were married in a beautiful ceremony while standing by the Hague in downtown Norfolk. Over the next 19 years, they shared a happy marriage full of love and created amazing memories together that lasted both of their lifetimes. In 2015, she sadly lost her partner in life, leaving a permanent hole in her heart. She spent the next nine years of her life honoring and remembering the life they shared together while navigating new ways to find meaning in a life without him.

Our mom enjoyed many great things in life. She loved her family and friends who will forever cherish her stories, impeccable taste, and fierce independence. She loved animals of all kind but her deepest devotion was for the love of her pets over the years including dogs: Buffy, Molly, Moonshadow, Casey, Zoe, and most recently her precious Louie; and cats: Penny and Violet. She loved to cook, able to make food on any budget taste amazing without ever using a measuring cup or recipe. She loved her country and she loved her community, doing her part in any way possible to make the world around her a more beautiful, peaceful place to live in.

One of our mom’s greatest passions in life was gardening. Her yard was the showcase of the neighborhood and her own personal oasis and refuge. She loved the outdoors. Whether spending hours on end working in the yard or simply sitting on the porch with her neighbors or alone watching and listening to the birds enjoying her many bird houses, she took pride in her outdoor space as much as she did her indoor space. Both spaces revealed her innate attention to detail, carefully designed and decorated to be as beautiful and eclectic as she was.

She was not only an artist of her own space but also an artist on canvas. As a young adult she attended the Ghent School of Arts in the mid 1960’s, sparking her love for oil painting. Starting in 1966, she proudly began showcasing her artwork in the Virginia Beach Boardwalk Art Show. In 2016, after a long artistic hiatus, our mother renewed her passion for painting, enrolling at Tidewater Community College where she resumed art classes and fine-tuned her artistic style and creativity. Her keen ability to capture the beauty of the world around her was evident in her art. Over the years, she developed an extensive portfolio as a realist painter, featuring beautiful works of art, many of favorites inspired by her love of nature, landscapes and Italian country sides.

Our mother was a fighter up until the very end and will always be the strongest person we know. She stood up for what she believed in and for those she loved. She was an exceptional mother who was always there when we needed her most, offering love, support and wisdom. Full of strength, laughter and resilience, she touched the lives of all who knew her.

Our mother’s life is a testimony of a life well lived, the love she shared and the lives she touched. She is deeply missed but her legacy of kindness and strength will live on in the hearts of those she left behind and beyond.

A celebration of life to honor memories and share stories of our mother is planned for September. Details will be disclosed as quickly as possible. In lieu of flowers, we graciously ask that you consider a donation to the American Cancer Society in our mom’s honor.

On behalf of our family, we would like to thank our friends and family for your incredible support through this difficult time. A special thank you to Virginia Oncology, Westminster Canterbury Physical Therapy and the nurses, doctors and palliative care team at Sentara Norfolk General for your kindness, loving care and comfort provided to our mother. We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our mother’s neighbors Stephanie, Cindy and Nicole whose generosity and friendship given to our mother and to us is beyond measure.