Anna L. Ryan
Anna ("Ma") L. Ryan passed from our lives September 22, 2016 of natural causes at home with many family members in attendance. Born Anna Lizauskas on July 18, 1924 to Lithuanian immigrants, she was the second youngest of eight children raised on a dairy farm located on Chohees Trail, Woodbury, CT. She lived her whole adult life not more than a stone's throw from where she was raised. Her children Robert Ryan of Woodbury CT, Rosemary Gollnick of Plantsville CT, Richard ("Sam") Ryan of Parkman ME, Francis Ryan of Southbury CT, Ann ("Annie") Geer of Seattle WA, Mark Ryan of Woodbury CT, Jean Ditter of Southbury CT, David Ryan of Woodbury CT, William Ryan of West Haven CT and Melissa Keplinger of New Hartford, CT and their spouses, along with her 14 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren all mourn her passing but know she is at peace. Anna was predeceased by her husband Francis ("Rip") Ryan as well as most of her siblings.
Always loving and caring Anna was just "Ma" or later "Grammie" to all who ventured into her sphere of influence. She was Ma Ryan to the foster child who needed a home, the niece or nephew who came to "vacation" on the family farm, the friends of her children and eventually their children; Grammie to her grand-children who she adored and showered with love and attention. Anna's life was filled with faith, love and devotion to her church, family and friends, she was a long time parishioner of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, CT.
Anna was active and competitive her whole life and loved sports, playing cards and board games, and swimming both at home and at the Waterbury "Y". She loved attending her children's and grand-children's games and was a rabid UConn women's basketball fan and cheered them through all 11 national championships in person when she could. Nowhere was her competitive spirit more in evidence then when she was playing cards. You had to watch out if you were the person next to her and she lost a game of Setback as you might get slapped on the arm. When she started out at the "Y" it was to swim during the winter when her home pool was closed and grew into her first paying job as instructor of the senior's water aerobics class at the age of 89. There she formed friendships with the ladies in her class that grew to include lunches and monthly card games.
She loved to travel especially with her husband Rip, and the small town farm girl travelled across the country in an RV, to Europe, and all around the country to visit family and friends.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to either the Waterbury YMCA -senior programs or the VNA Northwest Inc. which provided outstanding hospice care and support during the last stage of her life.

Cemetery: New North Cemetery

Location: Munson-Lovetere Woodbury

Funeral: Church of the Nativity

Services: A funeral Mass will be held at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on September 28, 2016 at 10 AM with the burial following at the North Cemetery, Woodbury, CT.

Visitation: Calling hours will be at the Munson-Lovetere, 2 School St., Woodbury from 5 PM to 8 PM on Tuesday September 27, 2016.