Emily Monica Ryan

Emily Monica (O'Hare) Ryan of Seattle, Washington, and Clarence, Missouri, passed away peacefully on October 24, 2025, with her family by her side.
Emily was born in Dublin, Ireland, on January 18, 1932, to Thomas and Matilda (Joyce) O'Hare. She lived a long and adventurous life, calling many places home and securing her place as a true citizen of the world.
She first left Dublin to attend nursing school in London, England, but soon discovered her talents were better suited to office work. After completing commercial college and passing government exams, she began her career identifying seeds for the Irish Government at the General Post Office on O'Connell Street. It was there, in an elevator, that she met her future husband, Augustine Thomas Ryan.
Following her fiancé across the Atlantic, Emily immigrated to Toronto, Canada, and the two were married on May 2, 1957. Three years later, they arrived in Los Angeles, and while dining in the iconic Theme Building at LAX, a waitress suggested they try living in Hollywood-thus beginning one of many adventures in Emily's remarkable life.
Over the years, Emily made her home in Dublin, Southern California, Minnesota, Missouri, San Francisco, Alaska, and finally Seattle. A lifelong traveler, she continued exploring well into her later years-taking a Baltic Sea cruise for her 85th birthday and visiting seven countries. In 2023, she returned to London and revisited the hospital where she had trained as a young nurse. Her final adventures took her to Leavenworth and Seabrook, Washington, in the summer of 2025.
Emily enjoyed a successful career as an insurance broker, but she found her greatest joy in retirement-gardening, reading, and caring for many wayward stray cats, kittens, and dogs that found their way to her home in the northwest corner of Monroe County, Missouri.
A devout Catholic throughout her life, Emily prayed faithfully every day and attended Mass every Sunday.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and siblings, Patrick, Brendan and Mary and her nephew Paul Quinn. She is survived by her daughter Anne Ryan of Seattle, Washington, and Clarence, Missouri; her son Patrick (Margaret) Ryan of Rotonda West, Florida; and her beloved grandchildren, Maureen Ryan of Austin, Texas, and Liam Ryan of Bonita Springs, Florida. She is also survived by her sister, Hilda (Pat) Quinn of Toronto, Canada; her nephew, Mark Quinn, also of Toronto; and her niece, Diardre (Matt) Quail of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Visitation will be held at Greening-Eagan-Hayes Funeral Home in Clarence, Missouri, on December 11th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will follow at St. Patrick's Catholic Church (201 S. Grand Street, Clarence, Missouri), on December 12th at 10:00 a.m., with burial at St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery near Clarence, Missouri.
If you wish to remember Emily's passion of caring for stray dogs and cats, please make a donation to Wayward Dogs & Cats, Inc.