Patricia Ryan Obituary

Ryan, Patricia Ann Willy
Bay City, Michigan
Patricia Ann (Willy) Ryan, age 91, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday evening, October 28, 2023 at McLaren Bay Region. The daughter of the late Edward Joseph and Margaret Octavia (Willette) Wirbel, she was born on November 12, 1931 in Bay City. Pat graduated from St. Mary's High School and went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University. She proved to be a very determined young woman, putting herself through college while working at a local movie theater. The owners of the theater knew she was putting all her earnings away for college, so they let her have as much popcorn as she wanted so she had something to eat. Pat started out teaching in a one-room country school. With the consolidation of Bay City Schools, she then taught first at Baxman Elementary School and then at McAlear Sawden Elementary School where she retired from after teaching kindergarten for 39 years. She always enjoyed visiting with former students over the years. Pat was a member of the NEA and the MEA, and for many years during the 1990's she served as Chairman of the Board of Bay Metro Transit System. She has been a longtime member of Corpus Christi Parish – Holy Trinity Church. She also enjoyed going to the casino and playing cards, especially Hand and Foot. During retirement, Pat and her husband Jim became true world travelers. Together they visited all seven continents and nearly every country they could.
On November 26, 1982 Pat was united in marriage to James L. Ryan and he survives her passing along with three children, Susan Mary (Greg) Merrow of Bay City, Gregory James (Judy) Willy of Waterford and Sandra Ann (Jeff Parks) Alderton of Bay City; three grandchildren, Kelsey Renee (Dylan) Jablonski, Nicole Adorae Willy and Kelly Marie Willy; and a sister, Betty (Charles) Abbs of Essexville. In addition to her parents, Pat was also preceded in death by a sister, Dorothy Genske of Lee's Summit, MO.
The Funeral Mass will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 3, 2023 at Corpus Christi Parish – Holy Trinity Church with Fr. Robert Byrne presiding. The Rite of Committal will follow at St. Patrick Cemetery. Visiting hours will be at Trahan Funeral Chapel on Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and at the church on Friday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. For on-line sentiments: www.trahanfc.com