Mary Katherine Ryter

We honor and celebrate the beautiful life and memory of our cherished Mother, Nana and Great-Grandmother, Mary Katherine (Walsh) Ryter , who passed away peacefully on February 8, 2013, surrounded by her loving family. Mary was a long time resident of West Hartford and Old Lyme, Connecticut and the widow of the late Joseph Francis Ryter. Mary was born in 1910 in Hartford, Connecticut to Patrick and Catherine (Whelan) Walsh. She was a graduate of Mount Saint Joseph Academy in West Hartford and received her teaching degree from Central Connecticut State University. Mary had a special love for education and spent many years teaching in the elementary schools in Hartford where she had a profound effect on the lives of many young children. In 1943, she was married to Joseph F. Ryter, a Hartford attorney and United States Congressman-at-Large from the state of Connecticut. She accompanied her husband on numerous Congressional delegation trips throughout Europe. Mary and Joe settled in West Hartford where they raised four children. Their favorite times were spent with the family on holidays and at the summer beach house at Old Lyme Shores. Mary was a vibrant part of every community she graced. In her younger years, she belonged to the LaSalette Dramatic Club. She had the lead in many of its productions including “The Call of Youth” which was presented at The Bushnell. Later in life, she was a member of the Board of Directors of the Women’s Auxiliary of Saint Francis Hospital and was an active volunteer at that facility. She was also a member of the West Hartford Belles, Mercyknoll Auxiliary and the Saint Thomas Apostle Women’s Club. Mary enjoyed reading, travel and the theater, but her true passion was the love that she had for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They were the center of her world and she was the inspiration of theirs. During Mary’s amazing 102 years, she lived through the sinking of the Titanic, two World Wars, the Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918, The Great Depression, the end of racial segregation, man’s first steps on the moon, the attack on the World Trade Center, the inauguration of 18 presidents and incredible advances in medicine and technology. Mary is survived by her son Dr. Richard Ryter and his wife Marcia of Cranston, Rhode Island, her three daughters and their husbands, Roberta Heffernan and John of Old Saybrook , Patricia O’Connell and David of Simsbury, and Kathryn Costelloe of Old Lyme. She also leaves ten beloved grandchildren John and Joseph Colin Heffernan and Kieran Heffernan Ingram , Brian, Kevin and Lauren O’Connell, Amelia Ryter Nihill and Joseph Ryter, and Michael and Kate Costelloe. Mary was also the loving great-grandmother to John, Sophia and Abigail O’Connell, James, Ava and Taylor O’Connell, Joseph Casey Heffernan and George Becker Ingram. She is also survived by her dear nieces and nephews. Mary is predeceased by her two sisters Ann Carmody and Margaret Dillon and her son-in-law John Costelloe. The family would like to thank the entire staff at River Ridge of Avon and Middlewoods of Farmington for the compassionate care they provided for Mary. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 16, 2013 at Saint Thomas the Apostle Church, 872 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, followed by burial in Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery in Bloomfield. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Mary’s memory to Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford, 30 Arbor Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06106.