Mary Ryan, 83

Mary Ryan, 83 Mary Ryan, 83, died at home with her familyin Princeton, NJ on Easter Sunday morning, March 27, after an illness. Mary was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1933, the daughter of Irish immigrants. She graduated from St. Theresa School and from Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School. After earning a BA in English Literature from St. John’s University and a MS in Education from SUNY New Paltz, she became an elementary school teacher in New York City Public Schools. With her husband and children, Mary moved to the Princeton area in 1969 and made her home in Belle Mead. She was a dedicated member of St. Paul Parish, where she served as President of the Parent-Teacher Association and where she became an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister, serving local hospital patients. For many years, she was active at the YM/WCA of Princeton as a certified lifeguard and first aid instructor, and she managed year-round donations for the Bryn Mawr Book Sale. Later in life, she became a certified volunteer for the New York City Department of the Aging and led exercise classes for seniors. Mary sought out Catholic churches and communities everywhere she went, and she traveled all over the world as a religious pilgrim. She was a steadfast believer in the right to life. Mary is survived by her husband of 55 years, William, Sr., and her children, Peter, Patricia, Joseph and John; she was predeceased by her children, William, Jr., and James. Mary is also survived by her grandchildren, William, Andrew and Michael; her brother, Peter, and many nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be held on Monday, April 4, 4:00 – 7:00 PM,at The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Ave., Princeton, NJ 08542. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, April 5, 10:00 AM, at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 214 Nassau St., Princeton, NJ 08542. Burial will follow at St. Charles / Resurrection Cemeteries, 2015 Wellwood Ave., Farmingdale, NY 11735. Anyone wishing to honor the deceased may make a contribution to Little Sisters of the Poor, Jeanne Jugan Residence, 2999 Schurz Ave., Bronx, NY 10465-3826.