Deirdre Kilcoyne Ryan

DEIRDRE “DEE” KILCOYNE RYAN, 75, passed away Tuesday, July 26, 2011. Born and raised in Elmira, N.Y., Deirdre earned her nursing degree at the University of Buffalo and her RN at St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in Elmira, N.Y. After serving as a public health nurse in Buffalo, N.Y., and a neonatal nurse in Columbus, Ohio, she spent 20 years as a nurse and manager at the Georgia Retardation Center (later called Brook Run) in Atlanta, caring for the needs of special needs children and adults. Never far from a good crossword puzzle, book or movie, Deirdre enjoyed many long-distance trips across the country to visit her nine siblings, five children and eight grandchildren. She was a big Braves fan and loved attending the sporting events and performances of her children and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Augustine and Loretta Kilcoyne of Oxnard, CA. Deirdre is survived by her loving husband of 48 years Charles E. Ryan Jr.; children Patricia (David) Forrai, Dayton, OH; Deirdre (Jerome) Cawthorn, Dayton, OH; Charles Ryan III, Atlanta; Michael (Valerie) Ryan, Atlanta; and Sean (Chelsea) Ryan, Richmond, VA; grandchildren Andrew Cawthorn of Cincinnati, OH; Deirdre and Rachel Beggs of Dayton, OH; Daniel, Grace and Christopher Forrai of Dayton, OH; and William and Benjamin Ryan of Richmond, VA. A visitation will be held on Thursday, July 28, from 6-8 p.m. with a Rosary service at 7:30 p.m. at H.M. Patterson and Son. A funeral service will be held on Friday, July 29, at 10 a.m. at All Saints Catholic Church with burial and reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Special Olympics or Society of St. Vincent de Paul.