Kathleen Lynott Ryan

Kathleen Lynott Ryan

December 14, 1924 – January 16, 2025

Kathleen Lynott Ryan of Silver Spring, MD passed away at home on January 16th surrounded by her family. Born in Athlone, Ireland on December 14, 1924, Kathleen lived a life full of faith and family. She was one of nine children born to Bridgit Hardiman and Thomas Kenny. Before emigrating to the US in 1947 to help her aunt, she met her future husband Joseph Lynott of Longford. He joined her in the US a year later and they were married in 1948. They settled in the Silver Spring area and had five children: Margaret Egan (Eddie), Kay Kennedy (George), Kevin (Jean), Marian Rutherford (David, deceased) and Joe (Emma). 

After her husband Joseph passed away in 1967, Kathleen navigated becoming a widow with strength and grace. She worked as a weekend supervisor in the admitting office of Providence Hospital for ten years and as parish secretary at the St. Camillus Rectory where her children went to school. She took her children to Ireland several times to allow them to meet family and forge lifelong friendships and connections to her home country.

 In 1976, she married David I. Ryan (deceased). Their union was the subject of much celebration and publicity – it was featured in the Washington Post, Washington Star and on the local news – because David was a widower with 12 children of his own: Billy (deceased; Lynn), Catherine, Mark, David, Madeline, Bernadette Cochrane (Michael), Michael (deceased), Thomas (Rhonda), Joe (Elizabeth), Patricia, Margaret Conway (Paul) and Philip (deceased). As a couple, they traveled extensively visiting Greece, Israel, Turkey, Italy and Canada along with many trips to visit family in Ireland. Their blended family of 17 children resulted in 45 grandchildren and 57 great-grandchildren. 

Kathleen’s faith and service to the Catholic church were of utmost importance throughout her life. Her service continued when she joined Ascension Catholic Church in Bowie and supported David as he became a Deacon in 1993. In 1995, she received a certificate from Trinity College in Education for Parish Service which led to her become a tour guide for 25 years at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. She was a eucharistic minister and lectern at both the Basilica and the Church of the Resurrection at Riderwood Village in Silver Spring. She was a longtime choir member and sang in the Riderwood Village choir group “Grace Notes” for ten years. 

After learning to swim in Galway Bay as a young girl, she discovered a passion for the sport and continued to swim daily into her mid 90s. Starting at age 35, she participated in the summer- long “50-mile swim” at the Oakview Pool for 12 consecutive years. She went on to earn 50 medals as a long-distance swimmer in freestyle and backstroke in the Maryland Senior Olympics. Needless to say, she had plenty of family cheering her on from the stands. Her competitive side didn’t end with swimming as she was a contestant in the 1990 Mrs. Senior Maryland Pageant, winning the title of “Mrs. Congeniality.” 

Kathleen’s home in Glenn Dale, MD was always filled of family and fun – welcoming visits by her children, stepchildren and grandchildren. The grandchildren would spend hours playing on the swing set, basketball court, pool and ping-pong tables – all of which she procured specifically for their use while visiting. And she always made sure her freezer was stocked full of ice pops, earning her the nickname “Popsicle Grandma.”

 On December 14, 2024, Kathleen’s family and friends gathered for her 100 th birthday celebration – she was very proud of becoming a centenarian. Kathleen’s laugh and smile were infectious to those around her, always reminding them to be “happy, happy, happy.” 

 Kathleen’s family will receive guests at Donald V. Borgwardt Funeral Home at 4400 Powder Mill Road, Beltsville, MD on Thursday, January 30 from 4:00 - 8:00pm.

 A mass will be held at Riderwood Village Chapel at 3118 Gracefield Road, Silver Spring, MD at 10:30am on Friday, January 31. Burial will follow immediately afterwards at Gate of Heaven Cemetery at 13801 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD.