Lebanon County PA Archives Obituaries.....Laney, Mary C.  July 3, 2011
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  Published in Lebanon Daily News on July 31, 2011
  Mary C. Laney 
  
  FAIRFAX, VA Mary Carmen Laney, 85, formerly of Hershey, died on Sunday, July 
  3, 2011, at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., after a long 
  and courageous battle with cancer. A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held at the 
  Ft. Myer Old Post Chapel on Monday, September 29, 2011, at 2:45 p.m., and 
  burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery immediately following the Mass. 
  The former Mary Carmen Giovannetti was born in Hershey, on July 16, 1925. Her 
  father was Emelio Giovannetti and mother Laura Gasper. Her mother worked for 
  the Hershey Chocolate Co. By age 7, Mary was a well known tap dancer 
  performing throughout Central Pennsylvania with the professional dance team of 
  Martin and Lally. She also played the accordion at talent shows, High School 
  Assemblies, and other public events. Mary lost her parents when she was 9 
  years old and was raised by her maternal grandmother and aunts and uncle in a 
  loving home in Hershey. In the 1930's as a little girl, Mary marched for the 
  Chocolate Worker's Union while singing the "Union Song." She also participated 
  in a more recent rally in August 2002 to protect the Hershey Chocolate Co. 
  from being sold. Her family had an active role in preventing the sale. Some of 
  her mother's family retired from Hershey Chocolate with over 50 years of 
  service. Mary graduated from Hershey High School in 1943, where she was voted 
  the "Prettiest Girl in her Senior Class," but she said what meant most to her 
  was being voted runner-up for "Best Dressed" because her aunt made all of her 
  clothes. During WWII Mary did her part for the war effort by working in an 
  Aircraft Instruments Factory in Middletown. It was at this time that she 
  became engaged to Lt. Primo Guardiani, U.S. Army Infantry, of Palmyra, who was 
  later killed in action in Normandy, France. After the war, she was introduced 
  to 1st Lt. John A. Laney, U.S. Army Air Corps, the brother-in-law of her 
  uncle, Frank Gasper of Hershey. Lt. Laney was a decorated WWII Combat Glider 
  Pilot with the 441st Troop Carrier Group. He had just returned from combat 
  duty in the European Theater of Operations including Normandy on D-Day, 
  Holland and Southern France. In September 1945, Mary was married to Lt. Laney 
  in the St. Joan of Arc Rectory in Hershey. Mary's new life was that of a 
  career military officer's wife, which entailed making 7 moves in approx 10 
  years including being separated from her husband during the Korean War. During 
  this time she volunteered as a nurse's aide in military hospitals and led many 
  community service projects for the Officer's Wives Club. Mary enjoyed playing 
  bridge and was very good at it. She won many competitive tournaments around 
  the country. Mary Laney was awarded a "Life Master" designation by the 
  American Contract Bridge League, and was the recipient of numerous trophies 
  for tournament wins. Mary moved with her husband, Maj. John A. Laney, USAF 
  (Retired) and her 11 year-old son, now Lt. Col. John R. Laney, USAF to 
  Fairfax, Va. in 1971 when her husband was transferred to Washington, D.C., 
  while working as a civilian for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of 
  Defense (Audit). Mary lived in her Fairfax home for all 40 years until her 
  death. She continued to return to Hershey often to visit relatives and 
  friends, and faithfully attended the Hershey Chocolate Company's annual 
  stockholder meetings. In 1980, Mary received an award for her outstanding work 
  at Kmart. In 1993, Mary Laney lost her husband, Maj. John A. Laney, USAF 
  (Retired) of nearly 48 years of marriage who she will be buried with in 
  Arlington National Cemetery. Inscribed on the back of their headstone will be 
  the words "I Love You Till the End of Time" from their WWII era song. After 
  his death, Mary continued to represent her husband in the National WWII Glider 
  Pilots Association and through her support was instrumental in the creation of 
  a WWII Glider Museum in Lubbock, Texas. Mary Laney continued to serve her 
  community, and in 1993 was appointed as a Virginia Election Officer and served 
  in that role for over 15 years. Mary Laney was a "Rosary Maker" at her home 
  parish, St Leos Catholic Church in Fairfax, Va. Many of her rosaries have made 
  it overseas to the Troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Mary Laney loved her family 
  and her country. She instilled a love of service and the military in her son, 
  Lt. Col. John R. Laney, USAF, who is currently serving in the Pentagon in the 
  Remotely Piloted Aircraft Task Force. He is also a licensed CPA in Virginia. 
  Mary lived with her son in her home in Fairfax, Va. Her doctors called 
  them "The Team." Several nurses and young Navy Corpsman at the National Naval 
  Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. referred to Mary Laney as"the most courageous 
  and loving person they had ever known." Her son said, "All that I am, I owe to 
  my mother. Her beauty and love will stay with me Till the End of Time. The 
  Team will continue and I Will Love You Forever." Mary Laney is survived by her 
  son, Lt. Col. John R. Laney, USAF, of Fairfax, Va.; and two daughters, Carol 
  Salinas of Aransas Pass, Texas, Patricia Morrison of Albuquerque, N.M.; and 
  one grandchild, Jamie Morrison of Albuquerque N.M.; and two great-
  grandchildren.
  
  Published in Lebanon Daily News on July 31, 2011 
  
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