Kathryn M. Ryan

Kathryn M. Ryan passed away on February 3rd, peacefully in her sleep, at the age of 102 and almost ¾. As a devoted Catholic Kathryn went to mass every day of her life, and twice on Holy Days, to show her love for God.

Kathryn was a beloved teacher of 2nd and 3rd grade students at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School in Brooklyn for 42 years. After retiring she missed her students tremendously and entertained us with many funny and heartwarming stories about them. Some students even kept in touch with her throughout all these years.

Although she came from humble beginnings as a child of the great depression, she developed a love of travelling the world throughout her life. We treasured our time with Aunt Kathryn as, in true Irish fashion, she always had an amusing story to tell and quite a sense of humor as well.

Although she spent her last 2 years in the tender care of the Carmelite Sisters and staff at Ozanam Hall Nursing Home, she lived independently in her Brooklyn Heights apartment until after her 100th Birthday. Kathryn was an avid reader and remembers, as a young girl, reading many stories about people travelling by horse and carriage. Experiencing this herself became her life-long dream which we were lucky enough to find out about and able to fulfill. For her 100th Birthday we took Aunt Kathryn on a horse and carriage ride through central park. It became one of her fondest memories.

Aunt Kathryn was a kind, thoughtful and loving Aunt and Grand Aunt to us all and we already miss her greatly.