Devote Mary Ryan

Devote M. Ryan, 85, of Easton, MD, died November 23, 2016 at The Pines of Easton. Devote was born in Brooklyn, NY, on December 9, 1930, and was the daughter of the late Alice Hanrahan (Cornely) and Kenneth Hanrahan. Devote was educated in the parochial and public schools of Brooklyn, NY. She received a B.A. from St. Catherine of Siena College, Siena, KY She also earned an M.A. from Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, WI. She was devote and taught in elementary schools in New England and Brooklyn, NY. On February 14, 1970, she married Frank Ryan and moved to Hyattsville, MD. She taught as a reading specialist in the elementary schools of Prince Georges County. Devote also taught English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) at Prince George's Community College. Devote was an active member of Our Lady of Mercy Church, Potomac, MD. After 42 years of teaching, Devote earned a Graduate Certificate in Education for Parish Service from Trinity University Washington, DC. She also received a Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Washington Theological Union. She served as Spiritual Director to many women in search of guidance in their lives as Christians. She did this with love and compassion. At Our Lady of Mercy Church, Devote led “renew groups,” served the developmentally disabled through the “Faith and Life” program, and founded the “Padre Pio” prayer group. After moving to Easton in 2004, she became a member of the Saints Peter and Paul's Parish Women’s Guild and the Easton Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Devote is survived by her husband of 46 years, Frank; her brother, John; her sisters, Alice Mary Feneck, and Regina Maria Poli; nephew and godson, Johnny; twelve nieces and nephews; and fifteen grandnieces and grandnephews. She was also preceded by her sister, Judith (Graham) and her brother, Kenneth. She has given us a legacy of love, joy, and laughter. Frank’s heart is full of her love NOW and prays that their love continues to grow EVERAFTER. A visitation will be held on Friday, December 2, 2016, from 4-6 p.m. at Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., 200 S. Harrison St., Easton. A Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated on Saturday, December 3, 2016, at 10 a.m., at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 1210 S. Washington, St., in Easton. Interment will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Cordova. Memorial contributions may be made in Devote’s honor to Memorial Hospital Foundation. For Nurses in the Emergency Room, go to P.O. Box 1846, Easton, MD 2160.1.

Devote Mary Ryan

December 9, 1930 - November 23, 2016