Frances Cope Ryan (Cleaton)

Age 94, sadly left us on August  30, 2024.

Survived by: Catherine J. Ryan Kennedy (Don), Ann R. Hansen, Paul J. Ryan (Eileen), and John F. Ryan (Patricia); by her precious grandchildren, Michael Kennedy (Taylor), Anne Kennedy, Elise Hawkins (Ryan), Lauren Hansen, Timothy Ryan (Shannon) and Christopher Ryan (fiancé Taylor). Great grandchildren Henry, Penelope, and Abraham Hawkins, Dechlan and Weston Ryan, and Jak Kennedy and nephew Charles “Chuck” Taylor (Karen). Preceded in death by sister and brother-in-law Mary Jean Cleaton Taylor (William), mother Mabel Garnet Lindsey Cleaton and Henry “Harry” Ernest Cleaton, nephew William David Taylor. Francis was born in Somerset, New Jersey and moved to Huntington, West Virginia when she was very young. She and her then husband moved to St. Paul, Minnesota in 1953 where they raised their children. Frances obtained her masters degree in special education. She worked for St. Paul Public schools as head teacher of the adolescent psychiatric unit at United hospital. Fran enjoyed playing bridge and card games at the condo she resided in for the last 20 years. She spent many hours volunteering for her favorite charity, Dorothy Day Center, and donated to many other charities. Frances was a devout Catholic, attending mass up until she could not physically attend and then viewed mass on tv. Family and friends are invited to attend the Catholic funeral service at Lumen Christi, 2055 Bohland Avenue, St. Paul, MN at 11:00 am. On Friday, September 13, with visitation one hour prior to mass. There will be a luncheon after mass. Internment will be held at Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights, MN. Donations may be made to Dorothy Day Center, St. Paul.

To share a memory or send a condolence gift, please visit the Official Obituary of Frances Cope Ryan hosted by O'Halloran & Murphy Funeral and Cremation Services.