Mary Julia Lane

Mary Julia (Doyle) Lane, age 82, of Bel Air, Maryland was called home to be with her heavenly father on Friday, September 23rd, 2022. She was surrounded by her loving and heartbroken family at The Senator Bob Hooper House in Forest Hill, MD. Born in The Bronx, NY she was the only child of Joseph Patrick Doyle and Margaret Agnes (O’Neil) Doyle. She entered the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1958 and lived a life devoted to God for 10 years. She taught first grade and fifth grade while she was in religious life. In 1968, the Lord called her to a different vocation. She continued to teach in Catholic Schools in NY before becoming an Assistant Principal. In 1970 she met John (Jack) Lane who would become the love of her life. They married in 1971, had 2 children who adored them and built a life of almost 51 years of love. As newlyweds, they lived in Jackson Heights, NY and moved to River Edge, NJ in 1975. Mary continued her teaching career in 1983 as a first-grade teacher at St. Peter the Apostle School in River Edge. She taught there for almost 20 more years before retiring in 2000. Over the span of her legendary career, she taught 2 generations of children how to read. No child left her first grade classroom without knowing how to read. She gifted her students with, as renowned educator Lucy Caulkins says: “an invisible backpack of privilege” by teaching them all how to read. She impacted many lives and her legacy as an outstanding educator will live on. Mary was thrilled by the arrival of her four grandchildren and loved each of them fiercely. Mary and Jack moved to Bel Air, MD in 2004 and enjoyed many happy years spending time with their grandchildren and adult children. Mary was an avid reader and loved books by Elin Hildebrand, Maeve Binchy, Danielle Steele and Nora Roberts.

Mary is survived by her beloved daughter and son: Mary Margaret (Lane) Ruff and John Joseph Lane III; her son-in-law Brian Ruff; her daughter-in-law Amy (Santoriello) Lane; her four beloved grandchildren, Katherine Ruff, William Ruff, Summer Lane and Holly Lane; beloved cousin Eileen (Cull) Forrester (Mike); sister-in-law Mary. M Lane, brother-in-law Thomas Lane; sister-in-law Sheila (Sutton) Lane; devoted “adopted” daughter Bonita Hammond; godson James O’Leary; goddaughter Eileen (Lane) Grisewood; and her beloved nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

Mary was predeceased by her loving and devoted husband Jack; her parents Margaret and Joseph Doyle; her aunt Julia (O’Neil) Cull; her uncle Hugh Cull; her grandson Aiden Brian Ruff; her dear cousin Veronica (Cull) O’Leary; and brother-in-law Edward Lane.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Senator Bob Hooper House, c/o Upper Chesapeake Health Foundation, 520 Upper Chesapeake Drive, Suite 405, Bel Air, Maryland 21014.