Helen "Lauren" Carney

The Honorable Helen Lauren Zanca Carney passed away at home in Hancock, New Hampshire, surrounded by her loving family, on January 30, 2024. She died in peace and with grace after an extended illness with brain cancer. Lauren was diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumor in 2015 and survived bravely for a remarkable nine years after brain surgery. Her deep Christian faith and love of her family and friends sustained her in her Illness.

Lauren was born June 6, 1957, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to her mother, Judith Zanca. Her father was Jerome Zanca. She is survived by her husband, David Carney, her sons Mitchell Elliott Carney and Robert Jerome Carney, and her daughter, Emma Bailey Carney. She was also survived by her mother, Judith Zanca, and her siblings, Bruce (Michele) Zanca, Bonnie Zanca Payne (William), John Zanca (Dawn), and her sister-in-law, Nancy Carney.

Lauren was raised in Des Plaines, Illinois. She was a 1975 Graduate of Forest View High School, Arlington Heights, Illinois, where she was Vice President of the Student Council. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Special Education from Northern Illinois University in 1979. In 1983, Lauren moved from Chicagoland to Washington, DC, and started a distinguished political career. She served in President Ronald Regan's administration at the US Department of Education and was Executive Director of the Young Republican National Federation from 1984 to 1986. Lauren was an Advance Representative for George HW Bush on numerous foreign and domestic visits, including the Vice President's historic trip to Poland in 1987. Later, she served as Midwest Regional Political Director of Bush Quayle '88.

In 1989, Lauren and Dave met in Washington, DC, where she was Deputy Political Director at the Republican National Committee. Dave was Deputy Political Director in President George HW Bush's White House. It was the beginning of a 35-year romance for the ages. On March 10, 1990, the loving couple married in Des Plaines, Illinois. In August of 1994, Dave and Lauren moved to Dave's hometown, Hancock, New Hampshire, and started their political consulting business, Norway Hill Associates. Over the years, the company has become a nationally renowned political consulting and media business.

The company's clients have included several presidential campaigns, governors', US Senate and House campaigns, regional political campaigns, and advocacy issues. In 1995, Lauren was elected to the New Hampshire House representing the towns of Bennington, Greenfield, Hancock, Lyndeborough, Mont Vernon and Wilton. In 2015, Lauren served as the New Hampshire State Director for Carly Fiorina for President.

Lauren Carney was an active community volunteer. She took yearbook sports photos at her kids' ConVal High School in Peterborough, New Hampshire. The Carneys are members of Monadnock Congregational Church and previously were congregation members at Antrim Baptist Church in Antrim, New Hampshire. For 13 years, she was a Board Member at Fleur de Lis Camp, a traditional all-girl overnight camp in New Hampshire. Lauren loved her family vacations, which included sailing, scuba diving, and international travel. This past September, Lauren visited Alaska with her husband Dave, her brother Bruce, and his wife Michele, completing her bucket list item of visiting all 50 states in the United States.

The visitation will be at the Jellison Funeral Home, 25 Concord Street, Peterborough, New Hampshire 03458. Tele: 603-924-3511 on Friday, February 9, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 10, at 10:30 am at the Old Meeting House, 1 New Boston Road, Francestown, New Hampshire, 03043. There will be a reception following the service.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Reef Renewal Bonaire reefrenewalbonaire.org or the Monadnock Congregational Church in care of Missions in Lauren Carney's name