Date of Birth:
Tuesday, February 26, 1924
Date of Death:
Thursday, February 2, 2023
Age:
98 years old

Doris Elizabeth Ryan

Doris E. Ryan, 98, of Rochester, MN, died Thursday, February 2, 2023 at St. Marys Hospital.

Doris was born February 26, 1924 in Pittsburgh, PA to Fredrick “Bill” Franz and Stella Franz. She graduated from West View High in 1942. She then attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh where she studied fashion illustrating. In 1943 she married John “Jack” Ryan and they moved to Beaver, PA where he had several real estate offices under the name of Ryan Realty.  The couple moved to Rochester, MN in 1987 due to her husband’s poor health and to be near their daughter, Beverly. Jack passed away in 1990.

Doris kept busy with her family, three grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. She was active in Autumn Ridge Church where she attended Bible study and other activities. God has always been a big part of her life as he had blessed her with the gift of drawing and painting. There wasn’t a time remembered of her without a brush or a pencil in her hand. Watercolors were her favored medium and many people have enjoyed her paintings through the years.

Music was also a big part of her life. She loved listening to and playing it. In her younger years she played both the piano and the organ. She played for various functions at Fontaine Towers where she resided until 2014 when she moved in with her daughter.

Doris had a giving heart and took part in many volunteer activities over the years. She volunteered many years for Meals on Wheels andwas a proud member of the Methodist Auxiliary group. She always enjoyed serving and welcoming families in the “Outpatient Surgery” lounge in the Gonda Building.

Doris is survived by her daughter, Beverly Beaver of Rochester; brother, Robert Franz of Pittsburgh, PA; 3 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, 2 nieces and 1 nephew; and 1 great-great-grandchild on the way. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jack; son-in-law, Ralph Beaver, and sister-in-law, Louise Franz.

The funeral service will be held at 1:00pm Wednesday, February 8, 2023, in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home with Revs. Karen Foster and Paul McDonald officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Grandview Memorial Gardens in Rochester.

Memorials are suggested to the Juvenile Diabetes Association.

To view a live stream of the service, please click here.