Mildred Hanley
Dr. Mildred Louise Hanley, 87, of Montclair, died Sunday at Mountainside Hospital in Montclair following a long illness.
Born on September 18, 1924, in Jersey City to Harry and Ethel Lutton, Dr. Hanley attended Sacred Heart and St. Aloysius schools in Jersey City. She grew up during the Depression, and was tutored after school by the nuns, which enabled her to get a full scholarship at Marymount College.
Her career in education began at Frankford Township School and eventually went into the Newton school system where she became principal at Halsted and Merriam Avenue schools.
She thoroughly enjoyed elementary education and the wonder of teaching young minds. She was known to greet her students at the front door by name as they arrived to school.
She was one of the first learning disability specialists in Sussex County.
She eventually became the principal at the Helen Morgan and Alpine elementary schools in Sparta, from which she retired for the first time. She then took her teaching and administrative experience to Pope John High School where she worked in curriculum development.
Dr. Hanley attended college in the evenings where she earned a Masters degree from William Paterson College, and a PhD from Walden University. She also taught courses at Fairleigh Dickinson University, William Paterson College, Kean College, and Jersey City State College.
She earned the Sussex County Administrator of the Year Award in 1985, and the New Jersey Distinguished Principal Award in 1986. Her passion for the Giants and Pope John Lions football teams was well known and she would rarely miss a home game.
She was an active fundraiser for Birth Haven Shelter and Hope for young mothers.
The family thanks all the teachers, administrative assistants, secretaries, and custodians that helped her along in her career in education, enabling her to touch the lives of thousands of young minds. Dr. Hanley resided in the Lake Lenape section of Andover Township.
Dr. Hanley was predeceased by her husband, Frank, in 1988, and sisters, Dorothy Tuohy, and Ethel Flaherty. She is survived by her children, Kevin Hanley of Waymart, PA, Dr. Brian Hanley of San Carlos, AZ, Mary Jean Lacidonia of Jersey City, Paul Hanley of South Carolina, and Francis Hanley and his wife, Kelly, of Lafayette; her grandchildren, Bridgette, James, Michael, Logan, Patrick, Caitlin, Maria and Erin; and her great-grandchild, Holden. She is also survived by her siblings, Sister Ethel Lutton of Lawrenceville, Harriett Halsey, of Jensen Beach, FL, and Bill Lutton of Frenchtown.
Funeral services will begin at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Smith-McCracken Funeral Home, 63 High Street, Newton, followed by a 10:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Josephs R.C. Church in Newton. Interment will be held at the Good Shepherd Catholic Cemetery in Green Township. Friends may pay their respects to the family on Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home in Newton.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be sent to Birth Haven, 4 Academy Street, Newton, NJ, 07860, or perhaps you might like to read a book to a youngster or have them read one to you. Mildred would have liked that. Online condolences may be offered at www.smithmccrackenfuneralhome.com