Virginia Mary Ryan

Virginia Mary Ryan (Hanrehan), 88, of Burnsville, MN passed away on November 16th, 2024 at home surrounded by her loving family after fighting for nearly 10 years with dementia and heart failure. She was an amazing daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, relative and friend with a strong faith who will be deeply missed. She was born on February 17th, 1936 in South Minneapolis, MN. She graduated from West High School in Minneapolis and started college at the University of Minnesota and Mankato State University. She worked for Daytons and American Life and Casualty before meeting Patrick James Ryan Jr. at the Dominic Club. She belonged to the Junior Catholic League of Women. They married on May 25th, 1963 at Incarnation Catholic Church in Minneapolis. Virginia and Pat had 4 children (Peggy, Jennifer, Richard and Michael) within 5 years. They moved to Burnsville, MN when Peggy was 2 into the house they lived in for 58 years. She made supportive friends immediately in the neighborhood that lasted all of her life. While raising her family she had numerous jobs which included waitressing (Picasso, Embers), wrapping gifts at Dayton's Department store, and as a receptionist at Eagandale Tennis Club. She originally wanted to be a teacher and later in life finally had the opportunity to work at an elementary school. She worked in many areas, but what she loved the most and touched the most people at was when she worked as a Para professional working directly with the children. She was also a dedicated volunteer for many organizations including Mary Mother of the Church, the schools, meals on wheels, and bucket brigade. Virginia was a very active person that loved sports and competition. She was on a bowling league, she took up running when the rest of the family started running and even did a few races, she cross country skied, waterskied and she played on a few tennis leagues. She enjoyed walking and continued with that all through her life. Virginia and Pat were involved in a bike group called Health's Angels which became Fun Folks on Spokes. They biked locally, but also took trips around Minnesota to check out different bike trails and enjoy eating and spending time together. Virginia enjoyed watching sports on TV especially golf and knew many of the players by name. She also loved to play board games and was passionate about playing cards. Virginia was also an avid romance novel reader trading books with many friends. One of Virginia's other passions was to travel. In the early years the family enjoyed camping around Minnesota and Wisconsin with a group from church. Pat took her to the Oshkosh Fly In for 10 years and one year brought the kids. Later in life Pat and Virginia took trips to Alaska, Colorado, Missouri, Nevada, South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, Florida, Hawaii, Michigan, Vermont, Montana, Oregon, California, Arizona, the Dominican Republic, Ireland, and also bus trips around the United States and Canada and a train trip out west to Oregon. She also took numerous trips with Peggy and her family and some special trips with Jenny on her breaks. While on all of these vacations she wrote postcards to everyone. At times she would send over 50 postcards because she didn't want to leave anybody out. Virginia had many different groups of friends and everyone loved her. She had a way of making anyone she met feel special. Pat and Virginia had a group of friends in the neighborhood and also through church. For many years her close group of friends had a card club that met monthly to play cards for money along with eating and socializing. Virginia cared deeply about all of her friends by remembering birthdays and special dates and never forgetting or leaving anyone out. Her two very close friends, Mary Ann and Jeannie were extremely dedicated to her during her life continuing weekly visits throughout the entire time of her declining health. She had met Mary Ann one of the first days after moving into the house in Burnsville. Family was what Virginia loved the most. She took care of her family and many relatives throughout her life. She was an amazing mother and grandmother. She dedicated her life to each one of her child and grandchildren's passions and dreams. She followed and attended every event possible, many times traveling far and through bad weather to be a part of everything they were involved in. She loved all of the holidays, Christmas being her favorite. She enjoyed decorating the house and spending time with her family. She was always so happy to have everyone home for the holidays. Each present was wrapped pristinely with her giftwrapping experience and included a special ornament that she picked out for each person. She spent a lot of time and gave thoughtful gifts to each person. Filling her children's stockings with fun gifts was one of her favorite things. Besides family and friends, she didn't miss giving a gift to everyone that was a part of her life; Mailman, garbage people, paper people, hairdresser, and neighbors. Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, Mary Edna Hanrehan (Foster) and Donald Henry Hanrehan; sister, Barbara Ann Taylor; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Patrick James Ryan Jr.; children, Peggy (Pete) Waldon, Jenny Ryan, Rich (Liz) Ryan, Mike (Jenny) Ryan; grandchildren, Adam and Ashlyn Waldon, and Kieran and Leona Ryan; brother, Donald Jay Hanrehan; and many relatives and friends. Funeral Mass to be held on Monday, December 23rd, at 11 AM at Washburn-McReavy Edina Chapel, 5000 West 50th St., Edina, MN. Visitation one hour prior. Interment to follow at 2 PM at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis. Donations are preferred to Brighton Hospice. A check can be mailed to 4500 Park Glen Rd. Suite 475, St. Louis Park, MN 55416 with Virginia's name as a memorial. The family would like to thank all the caregivers that helped Virginia throughout her last years and also the Brighton Hospice staff for the wonderful care.

Tributes

Virginia Mary Ryan

February 17, 1936 - November 16, 2024

Tributes

Virginia Mary Ryan

February 17, 1936 - November 16, 2024

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