Carol Ann Lane

Carol Ann Lane, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away Friday, July 18, 2025, at the age of 71. She was born on September 27, 1953, in Passaic, New Jersey to the late Walter and Helen Wojtowicz of Clifton N.J.

Carol is survived by her beloved husband of 52 years, Gerald Lane, her children Chris Lane and Sharon Bernard, daughter-in-law Carriann Lane and son-in-law David Bernard, her five grandchildren Kayleigh, Mackenzie, Iain, Killian, Caitlin, and two great grandchildren EllaMarie and Kyrie. She also leaves behind two brothers, Frankie and Johnny Wojtowicz. Carol was preceded in death by brother Walter and sister Lorraine (Cookie).

Carol and Gerry met as students at Northern Michigan University. Gerry heard her before he saw her. That Jersey accent. Then he saw her, and in his words, “instantly fell in love.”

Gerry and Carol said yes to forever and they were married in September 1972 at the Chanute Air Force base chapel. She married into a multi-generational career military family, rising to its challenges. She made a home in 7 states and two nations. Her husband and children were often deployed, sometimes at the same time, and three of her five grandchildren were born abroad. She never missed the arrival of a new child; visiting her family anywhere on earth they called home.

This girl, who ventured only as far from New Jersey as New Hampshire in childhood, got the travel bug. Gerry and Carol travelled across the US from Maine to California, Alaska and Hawaii. Boy, did she love cruising! They sailed and trekked together around 18 nations on 4 continents.

Growing up in the shadow of New York City, Carol loved Broadway. Theater remained a passion all her life. In college, Carol would drag Gerry to all kinds of theater shows and parties. As they grew into adults together, they never stopped. She took her daughter-in-law Carriann to her first play ever at the Oklahoma Civic Theater. Her grandbabies soon joined the party, as she never found them too young to go to a show. Carol enjoyed landscape painting, learned to play the piano, and simply loved art and culture.

Carol’s family was the center of her life. Kids and grandkids were her priority–you did not want to mess with this mama bear. Nurturing and protecting, loving them all dearly. Carol poured her life into whatever it took to give them what they needed. Military spouses must pick up and start over often. Work could look like being a short-order cook at A&W in one place, working in a fabric store and making your children’s clothing to stretch a junior enlisted salary, or serving as a school lunch lady. Once settled in Oklahoma City, Carol settled into her career at John Chain, CPA. She cherished time around the kitchen counter, making cookies with the kids and grandkids. She made every house a home, a warm and welcoming place to gather for decades of family celebrations. We are forever grateful and hold these memories close.