Mary Sue Ryan

Ryan, Mary Sue (Scott) of South Weymouth, passed away December 28th at her home surrounded by family after a long, courageous battle with dementia. 

Born October 13,1938 in Covington, KY to Granville and Izetta (Young) Scott. Raised along with her two adored younger brothers James and Robert, who pre-deceased Mary Sue, in Southgate, KY among a large extended family of loving aunts, uncles and cousins. Her special bond with her family was one in which no amount of time, distance or differing opinions could ever break. Here Mary Sue would grow to be an independent, feisty, spicy, sometimes sassy, always opinionated woman with an outgoing personality and strong moral code. Mary Sue attended LaSalette Academy in Covington, KY where as no surprise to anyone fortunate to know her, she was on the debate team and school newspaper. Mary Sue’s inquisitive and intellectual nature led her to enter the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, Nazareth, Ky as a novitiate to explore and better understand her Catholic faith. Here she would develop a life long friendship with a Phylis McCormick (Slattery) who hailed from Quincy, MA. After both had left the convent, Mary Sue enrolled in St. Thomas More College in KY and Phylis enrolled in Boston College. Always adventurous, Mary Sue was easily convinced by Phylis to waitress at The Skipper restaurant in Yarmouth as a summer job. It was while working a summer at the Skipper that instant best friend and fellow waitress Margaret “Peg” Ryan (Collins) introduced Mary Sue to Peg’s brother Bill. Despite “not really being too impressed” with each other a spark lit and Mary Sue and Bill would marry, move to Dorchester & welcome in quick succession four boys, William (of Weymouth), John (of Florida), Patrick (of Abington) and James (of Weymouth) before moving to South Weymouth in 1969 where they would welcome two daughters, Mary Sue (of Weymouth) and Margaret Maloney (of Weymouth) Bill and Mary Sue would share 56 wonderful years together until his death in 2019.

Mary Sue was an energetic, passionate individual who championed many social and civic causes. She was always active in her children’s schools when they were growing up and proudly served her beloved Weymouth as an elected town meeting member and planning board member. She also belonged to the Weymouth Democratic Town committee and League of Women Voters. A devoted Catholic, Mary Sue also served her much loved Parish of St. Francis Xavier as a CCD teacher and was asked to serve on the Parish Council by her then pastor and good family friend Rev. John Mulvehill. Mary Sue would go on to join The Voice of The Faithful and would be an active participant in the protest vigil to keep St. Albert the Great open when it was threatened with closure. But it was the her roll of wife, mother and grandmother to 12 wonderful grandchildren that Mary Sue “Nina” Ryan really cherished. Her family always knew they were her number one priority and she was a wonderful example of faith, loyalty, and activism while proudly displaying her southern roots and relishing the life she established in her adopted home town of Weymouth. She was the heart of every gathering with an infectious laugh, quick wit and smile that made everyone feel instantly at home, always entertaining her friends and loved ones with her wicked sense of humor, wonderful story telling and her out of this world cooking. Mary Sue could single handedly host an event for up to 100 people at her home with a mix of Irish mirth and southern hospitality. Almost every family event would be at her house simply because that was where Nina was. She will be remembered as a light dementia could not dim, and for the bonds she forged that it could not break.

In addition to her children and grandchildren Mary Sue is survived my her much loved son-in-law Robert Maloney of Weymouth, cherished sisters-in-law Marianne Scott of Kentucky, Frances Ryan of Florida, & brother-in-law Charles Collins of Weymouth, her four adorable great grandchildren, beloved nieces and nephews, her many cherished cousins, and her many wonderful friends.

The family would like to thank the staff of Old Colony Hospice for their wonderful care and support. In lieu of flowers, we request donations be made in Mary Sue’s memory to The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth at nazareth.org or P.O. Box 9 Nazareth, KY 40048 or to Old Colony Hospice via their website www.oldcolonyhospice.org.

Visiting hours will be Sunday, January 5th from 2-5 PM McDonald Keohane Funeral home South Weymouth with a Mass of Christian burial Monday, January 6th at 10 AM at St. Francis Xavier, South Weymouth. Burial in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Weymouth.