Lauren Mae Fulone
Lauren was born on Friday, October 4, 1991, at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, MA.
She was our third and youngest child and our only daughter. Lauren grew up in Mashpee, MA (Cape Cod)…attending Mashpee public schools from kindergarten through high school and was preparing to return to Tulane University in New Orleans to begin her sophomore year. She was super-smart, fun, and confident. She loved to read…in fact, she frequently had two or three books going at the same time. But she wasn’t a bookworm. Lauren was very social, very outgoing, and lots of fun. She played soccer, worked as soon as she was old enough to get a job, and had a wonderfully big circle of friends. She was also a really good student, graduating second in her class from Mashpee High School.
Lauren had a big heart and was very sensitive. Watching old people made her cry because “they’re just so cute” she’d say. She had a real soft spot for senior citizens. Lauren was also independent and confident. As one of her school projects, she created an “empowerment” program for middle school girls…encouraging self-confidence. To this day we still have kids in town who participated in this program comment to us about how helpful and motivating it was. Lauren was her own person, for sure. She had strong opinions and wasn’t afraid to voice them appropriately (most of the time). Lauren was also a Patriot. She had a deep appreciation for our military heroes as well as our first-responders, perhaps because her grandfather and a bunch of aunts, uncles, and friends were in the military and are now first-responders.
Sharon and John Fulone (Lauren’s Mom and Dad)
Lauren wanted to do big things.
She was studying law and medicine at Tulane…wasn’t sure if she wanted to be a judge (not “just” an attorney) or a surgeon (not “just” a doctor). Upon arriving at Tulane she immediately fell in love with New Orleans and adopted the city as her own. During her freshman year she tutored a young man from one of the inner city middle schools. She joined a sorority and made lots of new friends…she was all-in. In fact, we’re pretty sure she would have settled there after graduation.
Lauren had a strong Catholic faith. She was an alter server at our local parish right up until she went away to college. Lauren was a true Believer, and her faith was an important compass for her. She deviated, as we all do, and course-corrected. Lauren knew Jesus…and we know she’s with Him now…doing miraculous things on His behalf as one of His angels.
Lauren died in a car accident on her way to work on a rainy Monday morning, August 15, 2011. We established The Goosey Fund (Lauren’s nickname was Goosey) in her memory and through it award The Lauren Mae Memorial Scholarship each year to a graduating Mashpee High School student. With the support of so many we’re able to carry on Lauren’s legacy not only through her scholarship but also by providing assistance to organizations that Lauren would be passionate about…those serving our elderly citizens, those with special needs, and our heroes in uniform – those who wear it and those who wore it. For that, we are grateful beyond words.
