Sister Eileen Ryan (Margaret Catherine), 88, beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, died in Mont Marie Health Care Center, Holyoke, Mass. on October 13, 2014. She was born in Stamford, Conn., daughter of Lawrence and Catherine (McKeon) Ryan. Sister Eileen entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield in 1945 from St. Mary Parish, Newport, RI. She was graduated from St. Catherine Academy, Newport. She earned a B.A. degree from the College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee, Mass. and a M.A.T. degree from Assumption College. She also did graduate work at Northwestern, West Virginia and Loyola Universities.
Sister Eileen taught at St. Jerome High School, Holyoke, St. Peter High School, Worcester, and Sacred Heart High School, Pawtucket, RI early in her career and at Cathedral High School, Springfield from 1954-1980. Her last teaching assignment was at St. Joseph High School, Pittsfield. She held various staff positions at Mont Marie, Holyoke including assistant director of the Conference Center and director of Companion Ministry.
In addition to her sisters in community, she is survived by her sister, Catherine M. Olson of Wrentham, Mass. and by her nephews, Robert Olson of West Newbury, Mass.; Steven Olson of Colebrook, NH; and Christopher Olson of Neenah, WI. She was predeceased by her sister, Margaret Ryan, SSJ.