Mary A. Fries Ryan

DeLand, FL died on April 18, 2013. She was born on February 15, 1923 in Orlando, Florida. She attended St. James School, K-12, graduating in 1941, and attended the first year of the Orlando Junior College. She went to Washington, D.C. working for several different government agencies, the last being the Office of U.S. Senator Edmund S. Muskie. She had a lifelong interest in study and the arts, especially writing. She returned to college in 1977 earning an Education Degree from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. She is an Associate member of American Pen Women.

In 1984, she and her husband left the Washington area and made Daytona Beach their home where she was active in the aviation community with her husband. She did volunteer work in the library and worked in elementary schools. In recent years, she was an avid traveler, making annual trips to Washington, D.C. and to visit with her daughter in a frontier-like area of Montana. She was an active member of the St. Peter Catholic Church of Deland.

She is predeceased by her loving husband of 38 years, Thomas Joseph Ryan. She is survived by her daughter, Joan Nevarez; three step-daughters, Priscilla Palmer, Julie Phillips, and Janice Ryan; a step-son Thomas Christopher Ryan; step-grandchildren, Heather Phillips and Jessica Palmer; and step-great grandchild, Clara Phillips; three sisters, Irene Hartwigsen, Virginia Fries, and Joan Chason; one brother, Michael Fries; and an impressive number of nieces and nephews.

Visitation for family and friends will be Monday April 29th 6:30 to 8:00 PM at St. Peter Catholic Church, 359 W. New York Ave, DeLand. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday April 30th 10 AM at St. Peter Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested contributions to St. Peter Catholic Church Ministries to the Homeless, Visitation House, School, or Family Life Center; Florida Hospital Hospice; Smile Train; Habitat for Humanity.