Obituary of Alice Ryan

Alice M. Ryan, a resident of Burlington for 46 years, passed away at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center on Tuesday, May 6, 2008. The wife of the late William J. Ryan, she was 75 years old. Alice was born and raised in Webster. She was the daughter of the late Albert and Elizabeth Fitzback. Alice and her husband Bill were married in 1952 and settled in Burlington in 1962 where they raised their family. Alice was well known to many of the families in Burlington as she worked as a receptionist at Dr. Arthur Fertman’s Orthodontist Office in Burlington for over 25 years. Her outgoing and caring personality made her a favorite of many children and parents. Alice was an avid golfer and was a member of the Billerica Country Club. She was a regular participant and past winner of the Burlington Golf Classic as well as many other club and charity golf tournaments. Alice was also very proud of the fact that she once made a “hole in one”! As an adult she developed an interest in painting. She enjoyed painting still life scenes in oils and watercolors. The most important part of her life was her family. Alice was a loving and supportive wife of her late husband Bill who passed away in 1993. She was a devoted mother who exemplified motherhood. Alice loved her grandchildren and especially enjoyed family gatherings. Alice was the beloved wife of the late William J. Ryan. She was the loving mother of Elizabeth A. Nicoletta & her husband Stephen of Westford, Jane A. Ryan of Conway, NH, Michael F. Ryan & his wife Bonnie of Concord, NH, Kathleen L. Winslow & her husband Brian of Otisfield, ME. She was the sister of the late Helen Harrigan and Albert Fitzback. She was the proud grandmother of Denise & Adele Nicoletta; Ashley & Benjamin Simpson and Amanda Ryan; Kristen & Lauren Ryan; Dillon, Daniel & Abigail Winslow and the late John Nicoletta. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Saturday, May 10 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Malachy’s Church, 99 Bedford St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Friday 4-8 p.m. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. Memorial’s in Alice’s name may be made to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701 or the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701. May 6, 2008 For Mom Who was Alice Ryan Who was Alice Ryan a question I should know A woman of great faith and to church she had to go A loving wife to her husband who passed a few years ago They had a great time together the pictures say it’s so A mother of four children all are here today Knowing truly in our hearts that we’ll see you again someday A sister to two siblings both of whom have passed A daughter to Webster parents all together again at last An Aunt to nieces and nephews and cousins that she held dear And would send a Birthday or Christmas card to, almost every year A woman who lived in Burlington and really loved her home But Webster was her place of birth from there her heart never roamed A gal with many friends “all” she said were her very best Some of them still with us and some of them at rest A grandmother to eleven favorite to one and all And holding hands with John now I know they’re having a ball A second mother to my wife as well as her son in laws too She wanted to get to know their parents, a secret I think she knew And if or when things got tough or you had a run of bad luck She would smile and say “this to shall pass” then slip you a couple of bucks A mom that showed up at baseball games or at the gym for a meet She watched Betty cheer at football games now that was pretty neat Who listened so intently while one of us were bragging Who clapped with us and sang along to Puff the Jewish Dragon A woman who liked a very clean house and never asked for much more Saying, I expect it to sparkle young man, we all had our chores A woman very proud of her home that wanted it just right And agreed to let us have a dog as long as she won’t bite She worked for Dr. Fertman for twenty five plus years And finally when she retired his replacement ad brought tears She would call from work each day to say that she was on her way Give instructions about our supper that night then clean up to end her day She took up golf as a brand new hobby in the middle of her life And she played a lot of golf with Bill and liked that part as a wife And low and behold in “94” she made a hole in one I’ve been a pro for twenty odd years a task that’s yet to be done The game of golf she surely loved of her hobbies that the most But she also was a pretty good artist of that she would never boast She also enjoyed playing cards and many games she liked She taught us scat on vacation one year and man my kids were psyched A woman who had bypass surgery not just once but twice Along with that back surgery that she said was not very nice Through those years not one complaint although a few words would slip Just looking forward to a family gathering or a little golfing trip She liked to relax, look at magazines or a good book she would read Sometimes she would even knit a bit, thank god for enjoyment, not need She learned to play the piano why not she said one day I might as well learn to play it or just throw the damn thing away And every year at Christmas time they came to Hemlock Lane I think the count reached forty two squeezed into that picture pane She loved her family gatherings and would prepare without a rest Swedish meatballs, meat pies, beef borgineau but the pecan tarts were the best She made some trips to Florida packed her bags and she would go But it wasn’t to walk a sandy beach but to play golf don’t you know She’s been to the Cape and Carolinas and most of New England I think She’d explain to me the entire trip then give me her little wink I’m going with Johanna and Patt and Denise will be there The weather suppose to be kind of cold but I don’t really care I’m with my friends I’ll have some fun this won’t always last There’s going to be a gang of us I know we’ll have a blast A woman who led a pretty good life or so I’d like to think Who enjoyed her family and all her friends and a glass of wine to drink So who was Alice Ryan, that was just part of the total sum To me and Betty, Jane and Kathy Alice was simply Mom Love, Mike