Catherine Dennis RYAN

RYAN, Catherine Dennis
Catherine D. Ryan, "Kay," passed away peacefully December 13, 2012. Loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. Kay was born on New Year's Eve, 1917, in Norwich, to James and Mary Barry Dennis. She attended NFA and graduated in 1934. She married the love of her life, Jim, also from Norwich, on Dec. 4, 1943 in San Marcos, TX, before his wartime duty in the Pacific. After arriving back in Connecticut, the first of their four children, Caitlin, was born. Three more children, Dennis, Bridine and Barry were to follow over the next nine years. The family resided primarily in Norwich and Westfield, NJ, and relocated to West Simsbury in 1988. In 2002, Kay and Jim moved to St. Andrews Estates in Boca Raton, FL, and Kay spent the last three years in the assisted living facility there, Oak Bridge Terrace. Kay's greatest loves were her husband and her children. She adored her five granddaughters, and was blessed to live long enough to spend time with her three great-grandchildren. Kay loved her friends and taught her children that friends were one of life's greatest gifts. She was always a voracious reader, and truly cared about world events. A highlight of every morning was a cup of coffee and the New York Times. She was a beautiful seamstress, and made many quilts for her family. She was a talented artist, sculptor and musician, hobbies that she began in her 50's and 60's. Every day of her life, she made time to work on one of her "projects." She was an avid gardener, and loved to watch the New England seasons unfold, and the lush flowers of Florida. Catherine was predeceased by her husband, James G. Ryan and is survived by her four children, Caitlin, of San Francisco, Dennis and his wife Amy, of Boothbay, ME; Bridine and her husband, Chuck, of West Simsbury; and Barry, and his wife, Sky, of Durham, NH. Her loving granddaughters, Meghan DeVoe and her husband, Mike, Elizabeth Lund and her husband, Justin, and Maureen Brady, all of Simsbury; Kiera and Keely Ryan, of Durham, NH; and great-grandchildren, Charlie and Catherine DeVoe and Ryan Lund. One of the great gifts of Kay's long life was for her family to see that the kindness she so easily and lovingly extended to everyone who crossed her path was returned to her tenfold by the staff who cared for her at Oak Bridge Terrace. We will always be grateful for their kindness.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Employees Fund, c/o Jack Dawson, Treasurer, St. Andrews Resident Association, 6152 Verde Trail N, B-225, Boca Raton, FL 33433