Mary Ryan
Mary Catherine Ryan, 72, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at her home in Westfield on Sunday, November 9, 2025.
Born in Elizabeth to Timothy and Rita Shugrue, she was raised in Westfield. After completing her education through high school at Holy Trinity, she went on to attend Douglass College of Rutgers University, where she received her degree as a Physician Assistant.
Mary dedicated her life to serving others through her faith, her work, and her extraordinary generosity of spirit. A devoted member of Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, she served as a Eucharistic Minister and Pre-Cana counselor, walking alongside engaged couples as they prepared for the sacrament of marriage. She also shared her gifts through Holy Trinity’s Women’s Cornerstone Team and the Holy Trinity/St. Helen’s Rosary Society, living her faith daily through compassion, service, and prayer.
Service was the heartbeat of Mary’s life. She was actively involved with Healing the Children and participated in outreach efforts supporting Syrian refugee families. She also faithfully ministered to inmates through the Rahway Prison Prayer Group, offering hope, dignity, and spiritual support to those often forgotten by society.
Mary and her late husband, John, opened their home and hearts to 32 foster children, providing love, stability, and opportunity to those in need. She firmly believed that every child deserved a chance at life and did everything in her power to make that belief a reality.
Mary was an incredible woman who faced every challenge with grace, determination, and grit. “You can’t” was never part of her vocabulary; if someone said it, she worked even harder to prove them wrong. She will be deeply missed for her constant support, remembered for her firm but fair guidance, and cherished for her devotion to faith, family, and organization. She was predeceased by her beloved son, Pierce (P.J.), in 1993; her husband, John, in 2019, her sisters-in-law, Donna, in 2005, and Mary E. Ryan in 2015. Mary is survived by her loving children, Timothy and his wife, Jennifer, Brendan and his wife, Katherine, and Jason; her siblings Msgr. Timothy and James Shugrue; her 10 grandchildren; brother-in-law Robert E. Ryan and his wife Christine; many nieces and nephews; numerous cousins; and many dear friends.
Visitation will take place on Friday, November 14, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m at Dooley Colonial Home, 556 WestfieldAve., Westfield, NJ.AMass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in Westfield on Saturday, November 15, at 9:45 a.m. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Mary’s name to, Family Promise (familypromise.org), St. Joseph Social Center (https:// www.sjeliz.org/ ) , as well as Renew International (https:// www.renewintl.org/).
