Mary Jane Hanlein

Mary Jane Thompson Hanlein passed away at her home, on October 28, 2023, just 40 days shy of her 100th birthday. She was born in Washington, D.C. on December 7, 1923 and grew up in Anacostia where she often would roller skate to the Capitol as a teenager. She was the salutatorian of the Anacostia High School class of 1941. She earned a scholarship to American University where her studies were interrupted; she left college to help her family and worked for the phone company in downtown Washington, D.C.

Mary Jane was married to Alvin Robert Hanlein on May 26, 1950. They went on to have six children and raised them in Chillum, Maryland. She was widowed after 33 years of marriage at the age of 60. Mary Jane resided in Chillum for 63 years before moving to Silver Spring in 2014. She was active in the Homemakers Club and later, the Lunch Bunch with dear friends in her local community. She loved to travel, and went as far as Pakistan to be at the birth of her third grandson. Mary Jane was an avid reader and could go through a book a day, always reading the Washington Post from front to back, never missing the comics. She loved to crochet and made baby afghans for hundreds of newborn. A favorite past time was sitting in her rocking chair at her beloved cottage at Mckay's Beach and watch the sunset. She rejoiced in the many visitors she hosted at her beach home, affectionately, known as DADZ after her father. She was fond of animals and took in many a stray dog and gave it a warm home. She loved flowers and plants and had quite a green thumb. She never missed a dessert and frequented local bakeries and ice cream parlors.

Beloved wife of the late Alvin (Dinky) Hanlein, devoted mother of the late Christopher Hanlein (Adele Biancarelli), the late Cathy Hanlein Pielmeier (Mark Pielmeier), Carole Hanlein, Alvin (Chip) Hanlein II, Claire Hanlein, and the late Charles (Chuck) Hanlein. Beloved sister of the late Gray Thompson. Cherished grandmother of Luke Hanlein, Gaelan Treacy, Jude Hanlein (Lyndsay Rini), Gabriel Treacy, and Sean Treacy.

Funeral services will be held at St. John Baptist de la Salle Church 5706 Sargent Rd, Chillum, MD at 11:00 am followed by burial at Fort Lincoln Cemetery on December 7, 2023. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in her memory to the Lehman Center 402 W. Market St., York, PA 17401.