It is with sadness we have learned of the death of Sister Frances Ryan, a former professor in the College of Education. She died on Aug. 29 at Seton Residence in Evansville, Indiana. May she rest in peace.
Ryan
was born on Nov. 30, 1937, and was one of five children of Timothy Joseph and Margaret Frances (Healey) Ryan. She graduated from Alvernia High School in Chicago and later entered the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis in 1956. After initial formation, Sister Fran served as a social worker at Guardian Angel Settlement in St. Louis; Catholic Charities in Covington, Kentucky; Seton Home Health in London, Kentucky; St. Vincent’s Day Care Center in Evansville, Indiana; and St. Vincent de Paul Center in Chicago.
She received a bachelor’s in education from Marillac College in St. Louis, an master’s in social work from St. Louis University and a PhD in counseling and psychology from Loyola University. She also completed a research project at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Saginaw, Michigan, and served as a parish administrator in the diocese of Jackson, Mississippi. After serving as a professor at DePaul from 1981 to 2001, Ryan served as moderator of the Ladies of Charity. In 2015, she came to Seton Residence to serve in the Ministry of Prayer.
Ryan was preceded in death by her parents and is survived by her brothers, Timothy and Frank; her sisters, Margaret Hoyt and Maureen Dondanville; nieces and nephews, her Sisters in Community and many friends. Donations may be made to the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis. Condolences may be made online.