AMAZING. This is the word most often used to describe Mom's 100 year journey. The Lord will surely set his table to celebrate and welcome into his kingdom the woman who never said NO to a party.

Our Lord's servant, Mary Louise, was born to George and Helen Rickert on April 15, 1924. She had one sibling (George Rickert). Together, they had a storybook childhood, attended and graduated from Most Holy Rosary. Mary Louise later graduated from St. Joseph's School of Nursing. She worked several years at St Joe's hospital and as a Clinical Instructor at Central Tech Nursing program. Mary Louise met the love of her life, Thomas "Mike" Ryan and married in 1950. This marriage brought harmony to both for the rest of their lives. They had 5 children: Tom (Judy Hall), Michael (Laci) and Jim (Lisa), all from Plano, TX; Kevin (Karen) from Edmond, Oklahoma and Maureen Cywilko (Alan) from Onondaga Hill. Mary Louise has 8 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

Faith, Family and Friends were the cornerstones to her life. Despite 4 of the 5 children in Texas and Oklahoma, hardly a birthday, graduation, wedding, baptism or First Communion was not shared together. She was a member of the "Birthday Girls" who participated for many years in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in downtown Syracuse. Mary Louise's 90th birthday was celebrated with 25 family members on a party bus in Vegas. Even during her 90's, she traveled to Cabo three times and twice to Hawaii, as well as many other adventures and misadventures before and after.

Mary Louise was an active member in various community organizations. She was a board member of the Loretta Guild and Vincent House Guild. She was an active member at St. Michael's Church as a Eucharistic Minister, in the funeral Choir and Alter & Rosary Society. Mary Louise's faith was the tip of her sword. She said a minimum of 3 rosaries per day: one for her kids, one for her grandkids, and one for whoever needed it the most.

Many thanks and prayers to those who shared her journey.

There will be a funeral service at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Onondaga Hill on Thursday, August 24th at 10:30am. No calling hours.

Any donations can be made to St. Michael's Church in her name.

Live Stream Funeral Link: https://www.facebook.com/ascensionvideo?mibextid=D4KYlr