Eileen Agnes Bernadette Ryan, a longtime Pawling resident, passed away peacefully Feb. 5, 2018, at Ferncliff Nursing home in Rhinebeck. She was 93.
Eileen and her twin brother Bernard were born Sept. 19, 1924, in the Bronx, NY to Bernard J. Griffin and Irene (McDonald) Griffin. After graduating Mother Cabrini High School she worked for the FBI and CBS Broadcasting in New York.
On May 10, 1947, she married Richard John Ryan and together they made their way north, arriving in Pawling in 1956. They raised six children and celebrated 60 years of marriage before Richard passed on in 2007. Eileen was also predeceased by a daughter, Mary Eileen, and her beloved twin brother ‘Barney’.
Eileen and Richard were parishioners at St. John’s RC Church in Pawling and Our Lady of Solace in Wingdale. Eileen was a long time member and past president of the Catholic Daughters, and taught CCD at St. John’s for over 30 years. She also volunteered in the elementary school. She and Richard loved Pawling and enjoyed participating in local dance clubs, community theatre, and community events.
Those who knew Eileen will remember her for her wit, beautiful blue eyes and abiding faith and service to the Lord. She knew all the words to all the songs and was usually one of the first ones on the dance floor. She loved children and animals and presided over a large and busy household with humor and strength. When their children were grown and grandchildren arrived, their home was a favorite gathering place on weekends and holidays.
Eileen is survived by six children, 10 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, her sister in law and a niece and nephew:
Richard and Theresa Ryan of Dover and their children Dennis and Tracy; Bernard and Rosemarie Ryan of Port Jefferson NY and their children Casey and Caitlyn; James and Marian Ryan of Poughquag and their children Patrick and Meghan and grandchildren Benjamin, Nicholas, Olivia and Carter; Kathleen and William Flood of Clinton Corners and their children Maggie and James; Michael and Marcia Ryan of Rushville IL; Thomas and Mar Ryan of Danbury CT and their children Lidia and Nuria; her sister- in- law Lillian Griffin of Clifton, NJ and her children Bernard Griffin and Patricia Griffin.
Visitation will be at Horn & Thomes, Inc Funeral Home, 83 East Main Street, Pawling Thursday, Feb. 8 from 5-8pm. The Catholic Daughters will conduct a service at 5 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John’s in Pawling at 12:00 Friday, Feb. 9th. In lieu of flowers, donations in Eileen’s memory may be made to St. John’s Church in Pawling
