Obituary of Carolyn A. Ryan

She loved, and she was loved …

On Sunday April 11, 2021 Carolyn Ryan passed away, reuniting with her husband Thomas Ryan, Sr., who passed away on April 1, 2020.  Carolyn was born in Newark, New Jersey 81 years ago on July 13, 1939 and enthusiastically shared her birthday with her brother Bob, who predeceased her on January 22, 2021.

Carolyn is survived by her daughter Eileen Ryan Boosmann and her husband Frederick of Branchburg, granddaughters Sandra, Taylor, Erin Boosmann Silva and her husband Daniel and great granddaughters Liana and Shae; son Thomas P. Ryan, Jr. and his wife Nadine of Bochum, Germany; daughter Mary Ryan Gallagher, her husband Patrick and son Nathaniel of Wharton; sister Patricia Krug and her husband John of North Caldwell; nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and friends old and new.

Carolyn grew up in Belleville, NJ during World War 2 as her father served.  She and her husband together raised their children in Indian Lake, Denville and retired to “the shore” in Little Egg Harbor, where she cooked Tom’s almost daily catch of crabs from Willis Creek.  Carolyn most recently lived in Bridgewater, NJ.
 
She worked for both commercial and medical companies, and owned her own business while raising her children.  Carolyn served her family and community with love.  She was an avid fan of whatever activities in which her children became involved, Girl Scout leader, religious education teacher, classroom mom, library volunteer, and member of the Branchburg Rescue Squad Ladies Auxiliary.
 
Carolyn and Tom enjoyed decades of fun as active members of the Indian Lake Community Club.  She was President of the Women’s Club, and hosted many parties at her family home following Club dances and events.  She loved to travel and, many years after her honeymoon to Niagara Falls, visited her godfather in Arizona, Ireland with her sister-in-law and cousin, and toured France with her brother.
 
Among her favorite ways to spend time were antiquing and finding bargains at garage sales and flea markets.  She had a knack for turning those bargains into treasures.  She was a skilled seamstress and crafter, and her family and friends have received from her gifts made with love.  Her love.
 
Carolyn taught her children and grandchildren how to bake apple pie, crochet, celebrate others’ happiness, salvage a recipe gone wrong, make ends meet, calm a crying baby, and trust in our Lord.
 
Wife, MomMom, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, good friend … she’ll be remembered well and loved always.  Carolyn and Tom will be celebrated together by family and friends.