Wilma Thomasina Lane

Wilma Thomasina (Fallon) Lane, 87, of Vienna, VA died peacefully at home on September 4 after a long and courageous struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Wilma was born in Boston in 1937 to the late William and Mary O’Donoghue Fallon.  She graduated from Boston College in 1959 with a degree in nursing. After graduation, she worked in the surgical department at Boston City Hospital.  Later she became the head nurse at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Brighton, MA.

In 1963, she married Frank Lane, her classmate at Boston College, and they enjoyed over 58 years of marriage.   They shared a common affinity for their alma mater and the Jesuit educational tradition of integrating the intellectual, social, religious, and affective dimensions, while using one’s talents to respond to the world’s needs.  In addition to her career in nursing, Wilma displayed her commitment to serving others as the first woman elected to the Boston College Alumni Association Board of Directors.

In 1972, Wilma and Frank moved from the Boston area to Vienna, VA, where they raised three children.  Wilma believed strongly in the value of education, and she imbued in her children the Jesuit custom of asking enduring questions and engaging with the complex issues in the world.  As her children grew up and attended college, Wilma returned to work as a nurse in a pediatric office for 17 years.

The family enjoyed many summer vacations on Cape Cod.  Frank and Wilma eventually bought a house at the Cape to continue that tradition and in their later years they traveled around the world.  Wilma was proud of her Irish heritage, and she considered herself blessed for enjoying an enriched and meaningful life with her family.

Wilma is survived by her daughter Maryrose Lane Grossman and her husband Geoffrey Grossman; her son William Lane and his wife Helene Lane; her son Brian Lane; her five grandchildren Patrick Lane, Kristina Lane, Kathleen Lane, Aiden Grossman, and Benjamin Grossman; and her brother Kevin Fallon. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Frank Lane; her sister Patricia Fallon; and her brothers Richard Fallon, William Fallon, and Joseph Fallon.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a charitable donation be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, National Capital Area Chapter (www.alz.org/nca).

A visitation will be held at 2-4 pm and at 6-8 pm on October 29 at Money & King Funeral Home,171 Maple Avenue West, Vienna, VA 22180.  A funeral mass and reception will be held on October 30 at 11 am at St. Mark Catholic Church, 9970 Vale Road, Vienna, VA 22181.

Please note: The town of Vienna is holding its annual Halloween parade on Wednesday, October 29th from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. If you are planning on attending Wilma’s visitation, we recommend coming to the afternoon timeslot to avoid traffic congestion and street closures.