Mary M. (Kennedy) Ryan, 97, of Lowell, died peacefully with her family by her side on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at Youville Place in Lexington.
Born in Inagh, County Clare, Ireland on July 18, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Patrick Kennedy and the late Norah (Barry) Kennedy. Mary grew up and was educated in County Clare, and in 1949, at the age of twenty, she made the courageous journey to the United States on her own, sponsored by an aunt who helped her build a new life. She settled first in New York, where she lived for ten years. It was there that she met Dick while he was visiting with friends, and after they married she relocated with him to Lowell, where together they began their family.
Mary was the beloved wife of the late Richard T. "Dick" Ryan, to whom she was married for nearly 53 years before his passing in 2012. A longtime resident of the Highlands and a devoted, longtime communicant of Saint Margaret of Scotland Parish, she built a life in Lowell rich with faith, family, and warmth. She was a member of the Sodality at Saint Margaret's as well as the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians. For many years she worked at Sears in Lowell, and later in Nashua before her retirement.
She had a gift for the handmade and the homemade, and delighted in playing cribbage, knitting, crocheting, cooking, and baking. She was especially known for her Irish soda bread, her Christmas fruit cakes and hosting her annual Saint Patrick's Day dinner. Above all, Mary treasured time spent with her family, and there was no title she loved more than being "Grammi" to her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Mary is survived by her daughter, Kathleen Avery and her husband, Skip, of Lexington, and three sons, Richard Ryan and his wife, Sharon, of Seabrook, NH, Sean Ryan and his wife, Amy, of Old Orchard Beach, ME, and Patrick Ryan and his wife, Debra, of Burlington. She also leaves five cherished grandchildren, Kaitlin Couture and her husband, Jonathan, of Chelmsford, Daniel Ryan and his wife, Lauren, of Reading, Meghan Ryan Yarosewick and her husband, Peter, of Stratham, NH, Carolyn Avery of Lexington, and Brigid Avery of Lexington, along with her great-grandchildren, Kyleigh and Aiden Couture of Chelmsford, and Olivia and Jack Ryan of Reading. She is further survived by her brother, Gerard Kennedy and his wife, Margaret, of New Jersey. In addition to her husband and parents, Mary was predeceased by her siblings, John Kennedy, Laurence Kennedy, Cecilia Yelverton, Agnes Sweeney, and Elizabeth "Lil" Clune.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend visiting hours on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, from 4pm until 7pm at the McDonough Funeral Home, 14 Highland Street, Lowell, MA 01852. Her funeral will begin on Thursday, July 30, 2026 at the funeral home at 9am. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. at Saint Margaret of Scotland Parish, 375 Stevens Street, Lowell, MA. Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery, 90 River Road, Tewksbury.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mary M. Ryan may be made to Saint Margaret of Scotland Church, 375 Stevens Street, Lowell, MA, or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at stjude.org/donate. Arrangements are the direction of the McDonough Funeral Home. For additional information or to offer an online condolence, please visit www.mcdonoughfuneralhome.com.