Mary Catherine (Molly) Lanza

Mary Catherine (Molly) Lanza passed away peacefully at her home in Ft. Pierce FL on June 9, 2026. Molly was born in Belfast N Ireland on April 27, 1929. The youngest of 4 children and the only daughter of Terence and Sarah Jane McKenna. The McKenna family owned and operated The Shawnee, a small hotel in Belfast. Molly emigrated to the US in 1957, having made the cross Atlantic journey on the RMS Mauretania. She arrived in NYC and was employed by a Wall Street brokerage firm as a receptionist. She met her husband, Paul Lanza, at his beauty shop in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn in 1959. They married in 1961 and spent many happy years together focused on family, faith, social connections and travel.

She had many friends and was a good friend to many. She maintained close connections with her friends for weekly card games (she usually won) and birthday celebrations. Molly is survived by her sons Andrew (Carol) of Braselton, GA and Dr. John T. Lanza (Ginger King) of Fort Pierce, FL; 6 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Paul; her parents and 3 brothers. The Lanza family has been blessed by all of the family and friends who have shown love and support to our mom, especially her attentive and loving caregivers throughout her latter years. A Celebration of Life Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Ft. Pierce, FL on Saturday June 27th at 10am. We ask that anyone in attendance where purple, pink or any spring vibrant color in remembrance of Molly. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Vincent dePaul Society. 

Memorial mass will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 10:00 AM at St. Mark's Catholic Church, Fort Pierce.