Mary Jeanne Danko

M. Jeanne Danko, OCDS of Ocean View, DE, passed away on Wednesday, January 4, 2023 at Cadia Healthcare Renaissance in Millsboro, DE after a long illness with dementia. She was born on December 24, 1938 in Carbondale, WV. She is survived by Deacon Ed Danko, her husband of 63 years; four children, Diane Blair of Gambrills, MD, Edward Danko, Jr. and his wife, Laurie of Bowie, MD, Catherine Horn and her husband Dave of Millsboro, DE and Carol Keane of Jefferson, MD; ten grandchildren, Teresa, Christina, Elizabeth, John, Joseph, Marie, Matthew, Michelle, Melissa and Bradley. She is the daughter of the late Sam and Mary Jane Lazarus and the sister of the late Antionette Lazarus of

Delmar, MD.

Jeanne attended Marshall University and St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Huntington, WV. She always wanted to become a nurse. After getting married and having four children, she attended Prince George's Community College to become a Licensed Practical Nurse, and then a Registered Nurse. Jeanne worked at Prince George’s Community Hospital, Holy Cross Hospital and Anne Arundel Hospital. She also moonlighted as the nurse on emergency medical flights on private aircraft.

Jeanne and Ed met at Huntington Tri State airport where she was the secretary for the Airport Manager and Ed worked for the Federal Aviation Administration. She and Ed were married at Sacred Heart Church in Huntington, WV in September 1959 and Ed was transferred in December 1959 by the Federal Government to Newport News, VA. A succession of moves followed which eventually brought them to Bowie, MD in 1966.

Jeanne was a member of Sacred Heart Church in Bowie, MD. She was a member of the choir, worked in the parish office, was an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist for the homebound, was a Lector at Mass, she was the Prefect of Our Ladies Sodality from 1991-1992. In 2000 Jeanne was the Lector at the Ordination Mass for the Diaconate Class of her husband at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC.

Jeanne was an active volunteer with Gabriel Network in Crofton, MD which assists pregnant women in crisis helping them through their pregnancy and beyond. She also volunteered with Project Rachel for the Archdiocese of Washington serving those who were suffering in the aftermath of abortion.

They moved to Delaware in 2005 and are members of St. Ann’s Church in Bethany Beach, DE where her husband is a retired Permanent Deacon.

She is a Discalced Carmelite (OCDS) and took her final promise on May 11, 2013

in the community of Mary, Mother of Life which was later changed to the

Community of Mary.

Jeanne was a Lector at Mass, was an Extraordinary Minister

of the Eucharist for the homebound and volunteered in the parish gift shop. Jeanne

was a volunteer for Compassionate Care Hospice at Brandywine Senior Living in Fenwick Island, DE only to become a resident there when she suffered from dementia.

A visitation will be held at 10:00 A.M. followed by a Mass

at 11am on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at

St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 691 Garfield Parkway, Bethany Beach, DE 19930.

A visitation will also be held at 10:00 A.M. followed by a

Mass at 11 A.M. and burial on Friday, January 20, 2023 at Sacred Heart

Chapel, 16501 Annapolis Road, Bowie, MD 20715.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions

may be made in Jeanne’s name to Gabriel Network at (https://lovegn.org/donate/or by mail to, Gabriel Network PO Box 2116 Bowie, MD. 20718).

Online condolences may be made by visiting  www.melsonfuneralservices.com