Marie Elizabeth Ambrose Ryan

Family and friends will be received at the Gilpatric-VanVliet Funeral Home, Inc. 339 Broadway Ulster Park, NY on Friday from 5 to 8 PM.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday 1:45 PM at Saint Joseph's Church, Wall Street Kingston.

Burial will follow in the Hurley Cemetery.

Marie Elizabeth Ambrose Ryan , formerly of Kingston, NY, died on July 15, 2025, in her 99th year at Falmouth, MA, after a long and wonderful life. She was born in Rifton, NY on February 13, 1927, to the late Thomas J. and the late Margaret Carlin Ambrose. She was the wife of the late William J. Ryan, who predeceased her in 2010, in the 60th year of their marriage.

She was a graduate of St. Joseph's grammar school and the Academy of St. Ursula, both in Kingston, N.Y., and New Paltz State Teachers College. She taught school in Ellenville, NY, at St. Mary of the Snow in Saugerties, NY, and later as a substitute teacher in the Kingston Consolidated School District. She also volunteered at St. Joseph's School, Kingston, and the Davisville Elementary School in Falmouth, MA.
She was a devout Catholic, an avid reader—especially of mysteries, and a wonderful conversationalist. Yet, she devoted most of her life to raising her family alongside her husband, and leaves behind five sons and one daughter: William J. and Barbara D. Ryan Jr., Kevin M. and Patricia L. Ryan, of Sandwich, MA; Thomas R. Ryan and Robin E. Sarratt, of Lancaster, PA; MaryAnne R. and Brian M. Flynn of Woodstock, VT; Timothy J. Ryan and Adrienne W. Brodeur of Cambridge, MA; and Michael A. and Jacqueline L. Ryan of the Town of Ulster, NY. She is also survived by her former daughter-in-law Tracey M. Weis.

For the last 43 years she delighted in the joy that her 15 grandchildren brought into her life: Patrick K. and Rebecca R. Ryan, John R. Flynn, Courtney R. and David A. Key, Katherine J. and Edward S. Schwartz, Timothy J. Ryan Jr. and Lauren Thurman, Michael F. Ryan, Nicholas E. Ryan and Sara Mendoza, Margaret R. and Taylor P. Beaton, Bridget A. Ryan, Thomas J. A. Ryan and Hilary B. Ryan, Peter F. Ryan, Sally-Marie D. Ryan, Claire H. Ryan, Madeleine R. Brodeur, and William R. Brodeur. She felt deeply blessed by the gift of  her 9 great-grandchildren: Alexander, Owen, Will, Theodore, Jay, Cameron, Olivia, Lilah, and Theodore.
She considered her nephews and nieces as dear as her children, including John J. and Nancy Goldpaugh, Thomas W. and Kathryn M. Goldpaugh, Kathleen M. Goldpaugh, Margaret B. Tawney, Elizabeth A. and Dean Upchurch, Elizabeth R. and Richard B. Swartz, Particia M. Ryan and John P. Riley, Robert J. and Amy L. Ryan, and Dennis P. Ryan. She also held her many friends close to her heart throughout her life and cherished each to the end.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her infant brother, Thomas Ambrose, and sisters Kathryn Mary Ambrose and John J. Goldpaugh, and Margaret Virginia Ambrose and William P. Baker.

The Ryan family thanks her remarkable caregivers from Silvana's Care: Silvana Oliveira, Elizabeth Oliveira, Jackie Sampaio, Marly Santos, and Elenice Almeida, and the wonderful staff at Falmouth Hospital.

Because of her deep devotion to and gratitude for the Sisters of St. Ursula, expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of contributions to The Sisters of St. Ursula at: Society of St. Ursula, 50 Linwood Road, Rhinebeck, N.Y. 12572, or to the Benedictine Health Foundation, 144 Pine Street, Suite 220, Kingston, N.Y. 12401