Geraldine Rae Lacney, loving and caring sister and aunt

ALLEGANY — Geraldine Rae Lacney, 72, noted teacher, coach and athlete, entered peacefully into the arms of the Lord on Tuesday (Dec. 23, 2025) at The Pines Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center of Olean, where she had been residing since March of this year.

Born March 1, 1953, in Olean, she was one of five children born to George Russell and Madeline Rae Dougherty Harrington.

Geraldine, affectionately called Dene, Gerrie or Coach, graduated from Limestone High School in 1971 where she was a multi-sport athlete. She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Findlay in Ohio, where she excelled in basketball, volleyball and softball.

While attending the university she was initiated as a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority. During her time as an active chapter member, she served a term as the chapter president. Even after she graduated from the University of Findlay she made sure to stay in touch with her fellow sorority sisters.

She then earned a master’s degree from SUNY Fredonia. She was named to the Sports Hall of Fame for Allegany Limestone school and Findlay, as well as the Cattaraugus County Sports Hall of Fame.

She had a career in teaching remedial reading and math, and as a physical education instructor at Limestone High School and later at Allegany-Limestone Central School. She loved teaching sports to students and even after retirement she coached at Bradford Area High School.

Geraldine had many achievements in sports throughout her life, including a brief time on the Arkansas Lassies professional basketball team in the 1970s. She played on several amateur softball teams and won a national championship. She was the first woman to run in the Kane, Pa. marathon where she proved herself to be a strong competitor and ran in many others after that. For years she enjoyed playing pickleball at the YMCA and her enthusiasm for the game helped bring its popularity to the area.

She was a member of Our Lady of Peace parish in Salamanca and faithfully donated to many charities over the years. She was also a pet lover and cared for many cats.

She leaves behind two brothers, Frank (Linda) Harrington and Jerry (Kimberly) Harrington, both of Limestone; and many loving nephews and nieces.

She was predeceased by two brothers, Phillip Harrington and Richard “Dick” Harrington.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 28, 2025) at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, 3128 W. State Road, Olean. A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Monday (Dec. 29, 2025) in Our Lady of Peace Church in Salamanca. Fr. John Trela will be the celebrant. Burial will be next to her parents in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Limestone.

Memorials, if desired, may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; or to a SPCA of the donor’s choice.