Ingrid Jean Melenbacker

Ingrid Melenbacker was a force to be reckoned with throughout her life. She will be deeply missed by John DeLaura, her loving and devoted husband of 28 years, as well as her many treasured family, friends, and colleagues.

Part of Ingrid’s character and charm was how she would stand up loud and proud to advocate for justice. Part of her humanity was she could be vulnerable. No matter how much Ingrid shared her thoughts, wisdom or opinions, the fact that her intentions were always for the best was never in doubt.

When her mother, Mary, began to show signs of Alzheimer’s, Ingrid drove from Northern VA to Dansville, NY, every three weeks for over a year to help her mom. Later Ingrid and John welcomed Mary into their home and cared for her over the last 10 years of her life. She was Ingrid’s best friend and favorite person. Ingrid continued to mourn her mother’s passing for the rest of her life.

Ingrid was so intelligent; she graduated from George Washington University with a master’s degree in education and human development achieving a 4.0 GPA. She was also certified in the esteemed Gottman Method Couples Therapy which she believed was the most effective and successful approach to strengthen relationships and used it as her core therapy for couples.

Ingrid used her education and life experience to become a well-known and respected National Board-Certified Counselor specializing in couples and had a thriving private practice, Masterful Couples. Upon hearing of her passing, many of her clients reached out to Ingrid’s husband, John, to share with him how she positively impacted their lives, changed and improved their relationships, made them better couples and ultimately better people. Many clients described Ingrid as a second mother, always providing the best advice and helping them in many ways even beyond their relationships. Note that the circular logo at the top of this text was created for Ingrid by her artist father, Alfred, for her counseling practice Masterful Couples.

Ingrid was a vegetarian who advocated for animal rights and cared deeply for animals. The animals in her life were her children and partners. Ingrid was so generous, whether helping the people and animals around her or donating to charities and panhandlers on the street. Her wishes are that instead of sending flowers or some other token of sympathy, if anyone so desires to honor Ingrid, they could send a donation in her name to the Poplar Springs Animal Sanctuary in Poolesville, MD.

Ingrid longed for snow days and cold weather. She always said, “You just need to know how to dress for it.” No one else has a larger, more diverse collection of big fluffy sweaters.

When Ingrid married John, she made him promise that they would move back north for their retirement. She said that the only way she would be able to tolerate living in the “deep south” of Northern Virginia was if she knew she would be returning to the north. They found their dream home last October in Chester, Vermont. A beautiful 1904 Queen Anne Victorian with everything she wanted including a swim-spa. The property was surrounded on two sides by a horse farm with stunning views. Ingrid was returning to the small-town life and sense of community she had so missed.  The banner photo across the top of the page is Ingrid's hometown, Dansville, NY; population 5000. Photo taken by Ingrid's husband, John, from Hang Glider's Perch, January 20, 2008.

Life can be so cruel and take all your dreams away with a sudden terminal diagnosis. Yet Ingrid never gave up hope; she fought to the very end . It is a tragic, terrible loss that Ingrid is no longer with us to defend her causes, tend to those she cherished and to brighten our world.

Ingrid is survived by her sister, Celia Melenbacker and Celia's husband Jack Harris, niece Katheryn Saeger and Katheryn's husband Eric Saeger. Ingrid is predeceased by her brother Eric Melenbacker; Eric's wife is Wendy Melenbacker. Ingrid has many cousins in California and New York and all across the country.

Plans for a gathering or gatherings to remember and honor Ingrid will be forth coming. If you wish to be included you can add your email to the guest book or contact John directly at jdelaura53@verizon.net.

Ingrid's wishes are that instead of sending flowers or some other token of sympathy, if anyone so desires to honor Ingrid, they could send a donation in her name to the Poplar Springs Animal Sanctuary in Poolesville, MD.  The other links in this obituary for trees and flowers are posted by the website owner and would not necessarily be Ingrid's choice to honor her.