Obituary of Mary V. Ryan

Mary V. Ryan, formerly of Suffern, NY and Manasquan, NJ, died on March 25, 2017 at her residence at The Kensington, White Plains, NY. She was 84 years old. “Maureen” as she was affectionately known, grew up in Yonkers, NY, the daughter of Michael and Mary Murphy and graduated from St. Barnabas High School, Bronx, NY. After graduation she married John J. Ryan and they moved to Suffern, NY and raised 5 children: John, Colleen, Patrick, Teague and Aileen. Maureen always had an affinity for music and even those who knew her well might not be aware that she played the drums in the Woodlawn American Legion Band. She also possessed a beautiful soprano singing voice and sang in various choirs and at the weddings of her friends’ children, often with her daughter Aileen, something she greatly enjoyed doing. On one occasion, she also sang at a campaign event for New York City Councilwoman Aileen B. Ryan, a fixture in Bronx politics at the time. Maureen was also a finalist in a Rambler Magazine beauty contest in 1956. For her children and grandchildren, Maureen was a steadfast friend and believer in the talents she felt they all possessed. She loved children and her homes in both Suffern and Long Beach Island, where the family has a summer home, were often filled with her children and their many friends. Maureen was known for her easy going and fun loving personality and was immensely generous. She possessed great wit and really enjoyed a great story, no matter who told it. For her husband John, Maureen was a faithful spouse of over 63 years. Despite losing two of her children to tragic and untimely deaths, Maureen still managed to smile. Her presence will be greatly missed by all who had the great fortune of knowing her. Maureen was predeceased in death by her children John Ryan and Colleen Ryan, her parents Michael and Mary Murphy, her brother Michael Murphy, and her niece Susan Murphy Coyle. She is survived by her husband John J. Ryan, sons Patrick Ryan and his wife Valerie of Rye, NY, and Teague Ryan and his wife Patricia of Harriman, NY, a daughter, Aileen Ryan Burden and her husband James of Lumberton, NJ, and her daughter-in-law Patricia Ryan of Princeton Junction, NJ. She is also survived by her grandchildren Laura Ryan, Colin Ryan, Kristen Ryan, Jessica Ryan, Aidan Ryan, Fiona Ryan, Connor Ryan, Lauren Ryan, Ceara Burden and Alanna Burden, as well as many loved nieces and nephews and several cherished life-long friends. Visitation will be 9-10:30 am, Saturday April 1, Graham Funeral Home, 1036 Boston Post Road, Rye, NY 10580. Funeral service will be 11 am, Church of the Resurrection, 910 Boston Post Road, Rye, NY 10580. Burial will follow at Gates of Heaven Cemetery, 10 W. Stevens Avenue, Hawthorne, NY 10532. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Rare Cancer Research Foundation (rarecancer.org.), 112 S. Duke Street, Suite 101, Durham, NC 27701.