Margaret Lane
July 19, 1942 ~ December 26, 2021
Our dear mother passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 26th - Boxing Day to the many English and Australian friends and family from her native and adopted homelands. We will remember her as a lively soul in her prime, witty and engaging, who devoted a lot of time to her many friends, and to volunteer work with the World Bank spouses group and other organizations. She was most at home on the stage, appearing in many plays, pantomimes, and her beloved annual Music Hall for the British Embassy Players. An avid reader, she enjoyed her book club group and its monthly Zoom calls were a great source of connection to her during the pandemic. She enjoyed many of the arts and treasured her Sunday musical salons performed by McLean musician friends. She was a wonderful cook and entertainer; the parties and dinners she threw with her husband, Jeremy, when he was alive, were legendary. She was dedicated mother to us and her four wonderful grandchildren were her pride and joy. In the past few years her health unfortunately declined rapidly and we hope that her death has brought her peace and an end to her suffering. She is survived by her son Steven, daughter Nicola, sister Helen, and her four grandchildren Emma, Alex, Katie, and Miles. Rest in peace, mother, Nana, Auntie, Margaret.
Donations in her name may be made to BRAWS or britepaths, two very worthwhile organizations she supported.
Donations in her name may be made to BRAWS or britepaths, two very worthwhile organizations she supported.
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I will always remember Margaret for her quick wit, her acting skills, her love for Australia and her strong hands as a therapist who worked the knots out of my back. She once scolded me for not baking a fruitcake for Willem to take on a World Bank mission to some out-of-the-way place as she always did for Jeremy. A jar of peanut butter and red pepper flakes were not matching her standards! What a character she was and she was so proud of all of you. She will be missed. Miriam Zijp-Koedijk
That fruitcake sustained many a traveler over the years
Sending our thoughts & prayers to all Margaret’s Family & Friends & we do hope she is now at peace & free from pain. My memories of her sneaking off outside with David having a smoke on our verandah, & the twinkle in her eye as she laughed. I know you shall all miss her & sending you all our Fondest Love. Felicity & David from Australia
Nicola and Stephen, I am so shocked and saddened to hear the news. All my love goes out to you and your families. As a kid I probably went over to the Lanes’ house five days a week over a period of 5 or so years, to visit my best friend Nicola. Mrs. Lane was always there with a smile or a song or a poem, many of which I still remember almost 40 years later! She always encouraged us to use our imaginations, get outside, and make the most of what we had, and it made for hours and hours of creative fun, Whether it was paper dolls, sledding, or playing spaceship in the tree in the front yard. In the last several years, much to my surprise, I have gone back to her house in McLean time and time again in my dreams and visited her. I’m not really sure why, other than that she played an important role as a mother figure in my life, always with a kind word and welcoming smile. She was a truly great lady.
What a lovely memory. When we cleaned out her house last year we found the clothes pin dolls that you and I made. ❤️
It was such a shock to learn that our dear Margaret had died so suddenly, and I’m at a loss of words to express my grief. Please accept our heartfelt condolences for this terrible loss. I will forever cherish the memory of the irresistible, mischievous, utterly charming, irreverent, witty Margaret that so graced our bookclub and social gatherings with her lovely presence. Silvia Domenge
Margaret had been one of my dearest friends for the past 25 years or so. I first got to know her when my mother moved here in 1994, and I was looking for a massage therapist for my mom, to help her deal with her rheumatoid arthritis. I found Margaret in a Yellow Pages put out by World Bank Spouses. Margaret subsequently became my massage therapist as well. I will always remember that I was on her massage table on September 11, 2001. My massage started at 9:00 a.m. that morning, and about halfway through, the phone was ringing off the hook. When she checked her messages after my massage, it was her sister in Australia calling to see how things were in DC. We shared a love of books, a love of liberal politics, and a love of music. Margaret was wonderful to me when I was hospitalized for some weeks a few years ago. She had a heart of gold, and I will miss her biting sense of humor.
The occasion for this was the 70th birthday party the members of the WB book group gave Margaret
It was with deep sorrow that Susan and I heard of Margaret’s death. My first memories of her were of being introduced to a very amusing Australian cousin in London, probably over 50 years ago. We met up again when Susan and I lived in Annapolis. We spent many enjoyable times together with her, Jeremy, Steven and Nicola. Margaret was always the life and sole of the party, especially at our wedding. She was always passionate about her beliefs, including equality and women’s rights. We will always have fond memories of her and may she rest in peace. John and Susan Greet
From Caroline Berney, a WBFN friend of Margaret’s: Margaret did so much for MMEG from the very beginning. There are so many happy memories. The champagne balls were one of the earliest fundraising efforts for MMEG. They were great fun but entailed an enormous amount of coordination and were always a cliffhanger as to whether staff would commit to attending in time for the caterers, etc. Such hard work but so much fun, and what a brilliant door prize seller she was at the Fair. I am afraid she spent an unfair amount of time at the entrance. Vivid memories of her performances with the British Players over many years. So many people will miss Margaret.
From Hilary Welch, a WBFN friend, who has relocated to FL: I was so very sorry to learn of the death of Margaret Lane. She was one of the nicest people I have known, good company, with a great wit – a talent to amuse! She gave me several introductions to folk who having been part of the British Players had moved to Sarasota, for which we were very grateful. I was very glad to have known Margaret.
Margaret – her insights and wit – were a regular part of my life for over 2 decades through our book club discussions and other fun activities that grew from that. Margaret had the enviable ability to spread joy, and her on-target, humorous, sometimes bawdy remarks, delivered in her marvelous actor’s voice and clear diction would have us in stitches. Margaret heart was big, and “in the right place” and she will be sorely missed. Condolences – Margaret was a wondeful person.
I knew Margaret for many years because of our affiliation with the British Players. I worked on and off stage with her, and she was a treasure. I will miss her very much. Godspeed Margaret.
Margaret McNamara Education Grants is saddened to hear of Margaret’s passing. She was a vital Board member of MMMF, MMEG’s precursor, from 1986 to 2005. She organized balls, raffles, and fairs that funded education grants to help exceptional women build a better world for women and children. Our tribute to Margaret: https://www.mmeg.org/news/2022/1/5/remembering-margaret-h-lane
Margaret was the middle one of the three Huxham girls, I was the middle one of the three Doyle boys( G was a later addition) The 6 cousins had plenty of good memories of when they came up from Brisbane ( Grange) to the farm at Conondale(Beauty, the pony , Helen’s nose), or when we visited them in Brisbane Later on, when we were all living in Brisbane, plenty of good parties with plenty of singing around the piano (I’m just a girl who can’t say no) etc.
Margaret and I met some 8 years ago. She introduced me to the British Players, Emerson Avenue Salons, Northern Va. Rag Time, The McLean Players and many more artistic venues. Along with there we enjoyed dinners and utilizing her subscription to the Shakespeare Theater. Margaret will always be a bright light in my memory and will miss her exceptional and sometimes a bit salacious whit.
Although I knew that Margaret had not been in the best of health, her passing was still an enormous shock. I will miss her witty sense of humor and her kindness. Her pride in her grandchildren was so heartfelt and so heart-warming and I know she will be sorely missed. Our Zoom meetings for our WB book group will not be the same without her. Sending deepest sympathy to the family. Catherine Post