Mary M. Ryder, 86, died on Monday, June 17, 2019. In hospice care for several months prior to her death, Mary passed peacefully in her home surrounded by family. Mary had been a resident of Fort Myers since 2002 and formerly of Philadelphia, PA, Pennsauken and Cinnaminson, NJ. Mary was born on March 29, 1933 in Philadelphia. She was preceded in death by her parents Joseph P. & Mary C. Ryder (nee Gould), her brother John F. Ryder and former husband Edward J. Garvey. Mary is survived by her brother Joseph M. Ryder of Somers Point, NJ and her sister, Regina Montgomery (nee Ryder) of Crossville, TN.
Mary is lovingly remembered by her six children, Margaret Mary Brown (nee Garvey) (Jeffrey) of Bonita Springs FL, Paul E. Garvey of Captiva FL, Rosemary Sheil (nee Garvey) (Jon) of Atco NJ, Kevin E. Garvey (Sheri) of Delran NJ, Bryan E. Garvey of Atco NJ and Maryann Thomas (nee Garvey) (John Boehm) of Deland FL, and 14 grandchildren, Kristina A. (nee Brown) Satterfield, Amada L. (nee Brown) Peterson, Melissa L. (nee Brown) Mack, John E. Michelet, Brian S. Michelet, Jennifer Michelet, Megan Sheil, Kevin P. Garvey, Patrick K. Garvey, Thomas P. Garvey, Kelly Horel (nee Garvey), Matthew B. Garvey, Luke R. Garvey, Sean P. Thomas and 13 great grandchildren, William A. Satterfield, Nolan E. Satterfield, Abagail M. Peterson, Benjamin L. Peterson, Joshua Peterson, Lydia B. Mack, Annaliese B. Mack, Aubrie J. Michelet, Emmalyn Michelet, John I. Michelet, Aiden J. Michelet, Madelyn R. Michelet and Liam S. Horel.
Mary’s love for God and helping others started at a young age. In high school, Mary joined the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity, working with the Sisters in Catholic Charities and the Spanish Chapel in Philadelphia. Her experiences inspired her to pursue a career in Nursing and in 1954 she graduated from Misericordia Hospital School of Nursing. She loved nursing and worked part time hospital shifts while raising six children. After going back to school and graduating from Glassboro State College in1976, Mary took a position as a teacher and later, coordinator, of the Licensed Practical Nursing Program for the City of Camden Board of Education. During her 23 years of teaching, her students admired Mary for her ability to turn a bad situation into a positive learning experience.” In 1996, Mary was awarded the “Teacher of Excellence Award from the Occupational Educational Association.”
A lifelong learner, Mary pursued certification as a Bereavement Facilitator to help others in their grieving process. As a facilitator, she served those at Good Samaritan Hospice, now Kindred at Home Hospice, and those in her local parish. She later joined the Mercy Corp Volunteer Program. Mary volunteered for a year in the hospice unit at Stella Maris impatient hospice unit: a nonprofit, long-term facility sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy in Baltimore, MD and provided support and comforted to both children and adults in their time of most need. After 52 years of service Mary retired her nursing license but never stopped caring and teaching those around her about life, love and faith. She enjoyed her retirement traveling the world, meeting new people and volunteering for Hope Hospice of Ft. Myers.
Family and friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am, Thursday, June 27th at St. Columbkille Catholic Church located at 12171 Iona Rd, Ft. Myers, FL. Interment will be held on a later date at Gates of Heaven Cemetery in Berlin, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in memory of Mary Ryder to Hope Hospice: https://www.hopehcs.org/donate/ or mail to: Development Office, Hope Hospice, 9470 HealthPark Circle, Ft Myers, FL 33908
“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts and we are never the same.”
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