Obituary of M. Catherine Ryan

RYAN-the death of M. Catherine Ryan, widow of Mr. Justice Henry E. Ryan of the New Brunswick Court of Appeal, occurred at St. Joseph's Hospital, Saint John, on April 7, 2007. Mrs. Ryan was born in Fredericton March 22, 1924, a daughter of the late Joseph G. and Edythe E. (Coyle) Boyle. She was predeceased by her brother, J. Murray Boyle; and her sister, Elizabeth (Betty) McDermott. She is survived by eight children, Carey, William, Ellen, Joseph, Eileen, Mary Alice, Elizabeth, and David; fourteen grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. A graduate of St. Vincent's Girls' High School, she was valedictorian of the class of 1941 and the recipient of various academic prizes. Upon graduation from high school, she was the recipient of a scholarship to and attended Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, N.S. She returned to Saint John, where she attended the University of New Brunswick, Faculty of Law, then situated there. In her first year of law school, and the only female, she was the class academic leader and graduated in June 1946 together with her future husband, Henry E., and brother-in-law, William F.Ryan. Upon graduation,she practiced law in Saint John with Mr. James B. Dever. She was a practicing member of the Law Society of New Brunswick throughout her life and was recognized for fifty years of membership in the society in 1996. In the 1940's she was considered an anomaly as a woman engaged in the study and then practice of law. At that stage she was one of only twelve women to have graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of New Brunswick since its founding in the 1890's. After leaving the active practice of law in 1947 when she married, she was surrounded by the law and maintained an avid interest in the law throughout her life. Her husband was engaged in the practice of law for over twenty-five years and then was appointed to the New Brunswick Court of Appeal in 1972; and her brother-in-law, William F. Ryan, was the long-time Dean of Law at the University of New Brunswick before being appointed to the Federal Court of Appeal in 1974. She had a very special and enduring relationship with her father, Joe Boyle, who was a successful businessman and owner of Boyle's Hardware, Main St., Lancaster. She actively assisted him in the operation of the business. Kaye Ryan, as she was known, was a great conversationalist, extremely interested in the history of her city and province. She had an abiding interest in genealogy, her Irish heritage and was the author of a history of St. Rose de Lima Parish. She had many life long friends who will miss her dearly along with her family. There will be no visitation at the funeral home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Rose de Lima Church on Monday morning at eleven o'clock, followed by private burial. In lieu of flowers, donations to the charity of the donor's choice would be appreciated. Arrangements under the direction of Fitzpatrick's Funeral Service Ltd.