Mary Ryan

Mary Magdalen Ryan, age 89, of Janesville, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 7, 2026, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato.

Mary was born on November 30, 1936, in Bellechester, Wabasha County, Minnesota, to Lawrence Joseph and Mary B. (Reding) Majerus. She attended St. Mary Catholic School in Bellechester, where she was taught by the School Sisters of Notre Dame of the Mankato Province. She later attended Bethlehem Academy in Faribault as a boarding student, where her education was guided by the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, Wisconsin. She graduated with the Class of 1955.

Mary began her working career in Rochester at St. Marys Hospital before moving to St. Paul, where she worked for Economics Laboratory. Following the tragic death of her father in 1957, she returned to Rochester and worked at Mayo Clinic, where she served as a supervisor in the Medical Records Department located in the Harwick Building.

On October 23, 1971, Mary was united in marriage to Patrick George Ryan at St. Mary Catholic Church in Bellechester. Together they shared 38½ years of marriage until Pat's death on May 23, 2010.

After moving to Janesville, Mary worked as a home health aide for Waseca County and later at the Janesville Nursing Home.

Faith, service, and community involvement were central to Mary's life. She served on the board of the Janesville Home Delivered Meals program when it was established in 1974. She volunteered at the Janesville Nursing Home, Janesville Community Food Shelf, Holy Spirit Retreat Center, and Janesville Public Schools as a library aide. She also served as an assistant Girl Scout leader.

A devoted member of St. Ann Catholic Church, Mary generously shared her time and talents through numerous ministries and organizations. She was a member of the Council of Catholic Women (CCW), the St. Ann Quilters Group, and the Befrienders Group, where she served as secretary for several years. She served as a rosary coordinator and Eucharistic minister and participated in the St. Ann Adoration Group from its inception until her health no longer allowed her to continue during the winter of 2024.

Mary enjoyed needlework, sewing, reading, gardening, and canning the produce she grew. She took great interest in the activities of her grandsons and the lives of her friends' children. She will be remembered for her steadfast faith, generous spirit, and lifelong commitment to serving others.

Mary is survived by her children, Faith Ryan and Christopher (Jessica) Ryan; grandsons, Samuel Ryan and Joshua Ryan; special friends, Kelly, Patti, Spencer, and Erin Heitkamp, and Joyce Schwandt; as well as many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Patrick Ryan; her brother and sister-in-law, Lloyd and Angie Majerus; her sister and brother-in-law, Rita and Cecil McNamara; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Joe and Dorothy Ryan, Dan and Viola Ryan, Esther Ryan, Bob and Blue Ryan, Ken and Betty Ryan, Jim Ryan, Paul Ryan, and Donna and Norm Stevens.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the Janesville Chapel of Dennis-Steffel-Omtvedt Funeral and Cremation Service. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the Mass at the church on Friday.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026, at St. Ann Catholic Church in Janesville. Interment will follow at St. Ann Catholic Cemetery.