Nancy Solito Laneri

Nancy Solito Laneri passed away peacefully on September 24, 2026, surrounded by her loving family in Houston, Texas at the age of 85. She was born on June 4, 1941, in Houston, Texas, to Victor and Bernadine (Bianckino) Solito.

Nancy graduated from Marian High School in Houston and went on to study English at Sam Houston State University and Biology at the University of Houston. She worked as a geneticist at Texas Children's Hospital and at UTMB Galveston, where she met the love of her life, John Laneri, at a coke machine. The two married in 1965, beautifully uniting two vibrant Italian-Sicilian families from Houston and Fort Worth.

Together, John and Nancy made a life full of adventure. They lived in Houston where they had their son John, and then Oklahoma City before they relocated to Oxnard Air Force Base in Camarillo, California. A few years later, they returned to Houston and had their daughter, Monica. They established deep ties in their community and built a life filled with love, faith, and friendship.

Nancy was a woman of generous spirit and boundless energy. She was a devoted volunteer at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, a faithful parishioner and volunteer at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church, and an active member of National Charity League and the local Medical Auxiliary. She was an avid traveler with a deep and abiding love for Italy, a country that held a special place in her heart and her heritage. She brought that same passion and love to life in her kitchen, where she delighted family and friends with wonderful food and her legendary holiday cookies. She had a true gift for entertaining, and her home was always a warm and welcoming gathering place for those she loved. Nancy possessed a brilliant mind and a deep heart, and she loved her friends and family with a devotion that touched everyone fortunate enough to know her.

Above all else, Nancy treasured her family and was the heart of every gathering. She was an amazing mother to John and Monica, and her deep love and wisdom has continued to guide them throughout their lives. Perhaps her greatest joy was her three granddaughters and two great-granddaughters who lovingly called her Nae Nae. She took immeasurable pride and joy in every moment spent with those she loved most.

Nancy is survived by her husband, John P. Laneri, Jr.; son John P. Laneri III and daughter-in-law Audra Laneri; daughter Monica Laneri; granddaughters Alexandra Laneri Harris and husband Trey, Hannah Laneri, and Sophia Laneri and fiancé Patrick Holub; great-granddaughters Riley Harris and Reagan Harris; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father Victor “Vito” Solito, her mother Bernadine Bianckino Solito, and her brother Richard Bianckino.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church, 7810 Cypresswood Drive, Spring, TX 77379, on Friday, October 23, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. A reception will follow in McGivney Hall from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.