Jane Ryan Obituary

Jane Ann Ryan
11/30/1939 to 1/7/2024

Jane Ann Ryan, nee Gleixner, died peacefully at her cottage in Summerville, South Carolina, on January 7th, 2024, at the age of 84.

She is survived by her five children and their spouses Thomas, Jr. (Ellen-Sue), Timothy (Lynn), Jennifer Long (Larry), Jeanette Murphy (Mark), and Joanne Stallman (Bob); her sixteen grandchildren Elizabeth and Andrew Ryan; Timothy, Grace and Jack Ryan; Rebecca, Nicholas and Barrett Long; Ryan, Flannery, Cormac, Finnian, and Onora Murphy; and Jane, Annmarie, and Molly Stallman; and her first Great Granddaughter, Hannah Ryan. Jane was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Thomas Ryan, Sr., and her big brother Barrett Gleixner.

Born on November 30, 1939, in Chicago, Illinois, to Henry and Bernice Gleixner, Jane attended St. Scholastica Academy and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education from Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana, Class of 1961. There she met her future husband, Tom, when her brother, Barrett, set them up on a blind date.

Upon marrying Tom in 1962, she assumed the challenging role of Navy Wife as they responded to the call of service to the nation. She supported the Navy as she raised her own family and helped the families of those who served with her husband.

Jane will be remembered for her dedication to raising five children, often for long stretches on her own, as military spouses do, unable to communicate with Tom due to his service in submarines. She moved her household twenty times throughout 34 years of Navy service, and her favorite duty station was Naples, Italy, and she loved to travel with Tom to many countries of the world to represent our great nation.

In her early years, Jane was a gymnast and danced competitively. She loved to water ski as she spent summers visiting with family at the lake. Upon graduation from St. Mary's, she became a 4th grade teacher. In support of her kids, she volunteered as a Cub Scout Den Leader and Girl Scout Leader, and as a religious education teacher at church.

Jane's legacy lives on through her children and grandchildren whom she loved and nurtured with all her heart. She loved Saint Mary's and Notre Dame and playing snowbird at their condo on Hutchinson Island in Florida. Highlights of her life include family gatherings for the 4th of July, Thanksgiving or Christmas, and the cruise vacations she and Tom meticulously planned.

A Funeral Mass for the repose of Jane's soul will be held at Saint John the Beloved Catholic Church in Summerville, South Carolina, on January 29, 2024, at 11:30 am, reception to follow. Donations in Jane's honor may be made to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, reflecting her passion and dedication to her Catholic Faith. Jane also had a passion for flowers and those may be sent to 306 Shaftesbury Lane in Summerville.

The family is grateful to the care team at the Village of Summerville, Vistelan Healthcare, and Wren Hospice, respectively, for their support through Jane's final years, months, and days of life. We are also deeply grateful to Dr. John Forney of Liberty Doctors, who cared for Jane in her home for the last four years with diligence, warmth, and humor. Jane's tribute page can be found at https://www.charlestoncremationcenter.com/obituary/8814101