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Catherine Ryan Obituary
Cathy is survived by her daughter Sarah (Brian) Green, daughter Elise (Anthony) Krch, son John (Brianna) Schroeder, son Daniel (Nicole) Schroeder, brother Jim Ryan, and brother Jack Ryan. She also leaves behind thirteen adoring grandchildren: Michaela, Layla, Emily, Isabella, Hannah, Aubrey, Sophia, T.J., Billy, Keira, Jack, Ashlynn, and Cailin. Cathy was preceded in death by her parents Jack and Florence Ryan, as well as her sister Colleen Ryan.
Cathy received her education at Queen of Martyrs for primary school and Mother McAuley for high school. She had a diverse career, spending time working in Chicago's meat packing district, Little Company of Mary Hospital, and Universal Studios Orlando. However, Cathy was especially proud of her time working for the City of Chicago.
A funeral mass will be held on January 11, 2024, at 10 AM at Queen of Martyrs church. Following the service, a Celebration of Life Memorial will take place from 12 PM to 4 PM at 115 Bourbon Street. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the charity of your choice.
Cathy will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all those whose lives she touched. Her memory will forever be cherished, and her legacy of love and laughter will live on.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Tim Putz
January 12, 2024
Condolences to the Ryan family and all of her friends on her passing
Denis Ryan
January 10, 2024
My condolences to Sarah, Elise, John and Dan on the passing of your mother. I spoke with your mother about every 6 weeks for many years and kept hoping the doctors could find a solution to her issue. May she rest in peace.
Denis Ryan
January 10, 2024
Sarah, Elise, John, Dan; God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. I was sorry to hear that your mother passed. I spoke with her regularly and hoped the doctors would find a solution to troubles. May you find peace and comfort. May your mom rest in peace Uncle Denis.
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Trish Loughlin
January 6, 2024
Dear Ryan family ....sending my heartfelt condolences for your loss. I was born the same month as Cathy, and we went to the same high school, but it was really through our parents close friendship that I knew Cathy. She had the best sense of humor and could easily evoke laughter with her stories. I know her loss is deeply felt by her family and friends. I pray that you will be comforted by holding all your memories close to your heart.
Janet Green
January 6, 2024
I not only lost my cousin last Friday, I lost my lifelong best friend. We were only a month apart in age & she was my partner in crime always, the funniest & most fun person I've ever known & I'm certain, will ever know. Whenever we would get together, from the stage of being children, up to this point in our 60's, any family function, wedding, funeral, whatever, when the two of us would meet, our greeting was always "Cousin!", we would hug & just takeoff. We were always up to no good as kids, & into to adult life, when we were together & we just thought we were both the most hilarious people ever. As kids, every summer, she would come out to the burbs & spend a week & I'd go to Evergreen Park, which I considered "the city", lol, and spend a week at her house. The rest of the summer, we would write each other letters. I always looked forward to getting her letters in my parent's mailbox. When we got older, we shared an apartment together for a year or more. We were in each other's weddings. We saw each other have kids & complained to each other what a pain they were, lol! We shared our life's heartaches, but always made each other feel better & found humor in whatever was happening to us. We would just non-stop laugh when we were together. We had the same sense of humor & got each other's humor like no other people would. Sometimes we would say the same little quip at the same time, & that would make us laugh. The brightest light in my life went out on the 29th & a piece of my heart went with it. A big piece. Cathy was always my "go to" person when I was having a bad day, because I knew she would always make me laugh & make me feel better. We were each other's "go to" person. Besides being the funniest person I knew, she could also be tough as nails, you didn't want to cross this girl, but yet, she was the sweetest, most caring, open-hearted person, I've ever known. My older brother passed away, after a long illness, in January 2020. I had to handle his funeral, etc. & a month later, my mom passed away & I had to handle her wake & funeral & just dealing with those 2 major losses. Cathy was living in Florida (a dream of hers I was thrilled to see her finally accomplish) when my mom passed away. Covid was just beginning to make people nervous, at that point, didn't really know too much, but people were beginning to be informed that something really bad was coming our way. Cathy wasn't feeling that great at that point in time either & the Covid thing was making her nervous. She just didn't think she could make it up to IL & I totally understood & assured her of that, but she was upset at the thought of not being there for me. But then, at my mom's wake, I turned around and there she was. I was stunned. She opened her arms to me & we just hugged for the longest time, while I cried at the relief of her being there for me, because she was the one person I really needed at that point in time. Cathy knew every bit of the road I had been down for years with my brother & mom. I called her the next day & told her I would never forget that she did that for me. And I won't. Ever. I have far, far too many fun, wonderful memories to list here. They're in the hundreds & every one of them funny. Whenever I see Mickey Mouse, the Disney Castle or think of Florida, I will think of her. Whenever I see somebody with red hair, hear a Diana Ross song or see a bottle of Captain Morgan rum, I will think of her. Every year that St. Patty's Day rolls around, I will definitely think of her. She loved her Irish heritage. We had planned to go to Ireland once she kicked her health issue & to do so many other things, that will now never happen. And even if I do them myself with whoever, won't be nearly as fun. Every 4th of July, we would reach out to each other & recall our childhood 4th's we spent together, same with Christmas. I will think of her on those holidays now and miss those calls. I will miss laughing with her. I will miss not having someone to takeoff with me at every family event. To laugh inappropriately at wakes & funerals. I'll miss her crazy red hair, her sharp wit and her contagious laugh. She had the best, most unmistakable laugh. We always reverted back to acting like kids when we were together, she was forever young...always game to do something that most people wouldn't. Lastly, I can never thank her daughter, Elise, for contacting me that last early morning & giving me the gift of getting there in time to say good-bye & give her one last hug & kiss. After, according to Elise, she had stopped responding an hour earlier. When I reached her, took her hand & said "Cousin, it's me" she squeezed my hand, opened her eyes partly & looked me right in my eyes, so I know she knows I was there & that she heard me tell her I would see her again & that I loved her, so I have that. That takes the ache in my heart away a little bit. We always talked & laughed about being in the same old peoples home, at some point, where we would drink, laugh and make fun of the others. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do without her in my life, for what could possibly be a long, long time. I honestly don't know. I do know that I will never forget her, the times we spent together or that laugh. R.I.P. cousin.
Trish Mashak
January 6, 2024
My Sweetest Cathy. You were the funniest Irish girl ( beside myself) that I ever met! Your laughter, your jokes, our talks!! I will miss you sweetheart. You brought a smile to every day at work. I will never forget those memories.
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