Mary Klett Ryan

Mary Klett Ryan of Rutland, beloved wife of the late Thomas C. Ryan, passed away peacefully on July 12, 2024, surrounded by her three children. Born in Hartford on May 29, 1937, she was the daughter of the late Harold F. and Kathleen (McCaw) Klett of Newington, CT. She attended high school at Mount St. Joseph’s Academy in West Hartford, CT, put herself through the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford, CT, and later earned her master’s in teaching at Trinity College in Hartford.  Soon after college, she caught the excitement sweeping much of the country and volunteered for the John F. Kennedy presidential campaign – eventually meeting him in Hyannis Port. At that time, she also joined Catholic Grads where she met some of her lifelong friends including one who would become the love of her life. She loved children and she embraced teaching from an early age first, when called upon as an elementary student to tutor other students in the basement of the two-room schoolhouse she attended. While in college she spent a summer at the Newington Children’s Hospital, working with disabled children an experience she cherished. After graduation, she became a teacher to several adorable first-grade classes including one class that participated in her wedding. Shortly before moving to Rutland, in 1974, she discovered quilting which, second only to her family, would become her lifelong passion. That pursuit quickly evolved into a business, Mary K Ryan Design where she designed, taught, and sold award-winning quilting patterns influenced by a fusion of Islamic art and traditional American designs. She was a founding member of the Maple Leaf Quilters Guild in Rutland and was an early recruit and long-serving member on the board of the Vermont Quilt Festival, helping to grow that annual event into a leading international quilt show and one of the top ten tourist attractions in the state. She also hosted many Vermont Classic quilting weekends with her dear friend and close collaborator, the late Jan Snelling McTaggart.

Mary and Thomas designed and built their house in Rutland, and she stayed there for 21 years after his death compelled by a deep connection to him through the home and his landscaping.  She was an early adopter of technology and the family expert for all things Apple. She had a passion for music that she attributed to her father, from singing in high school glee club to church choir to signing along with Josh Groban on her Echo.  She is survived by her three children, Stephen K Ryan and his wife Jeanette of Reston, VA, Mary Kate Whittum, and her husband Jamie of Freedom, NH and Maura Ryan and her husband Tri Nguyen of Portland, ME., her dearly loved grandchildren Sebastian Thomas Ryan and Teagan Kathleen Ryan of Reston, VA, and Tree Nguyen-Ryan of Portland ME. She is also survived by her brother Michael and his wife Janet Klett of Old Saybrook, CT, and sister-in-law Maureen Klett of Newington, CT.  She is also survived by a dear friend and honorary daughter, Kelly Welch of New Britain, CT.

She also had a close connection with many nieces and nephews: John Klett, Thomas Klett, Mary-Lou Stoneburner, Timothy Klett, Kathleen Gallagher, Kevin Klett, Harold Klett, Michael Klett; Brian Klett, K.C. Klett and Colin Klett, Mary Alma Noonan, Michael Noonan, Mark Noonan, Diane Eichler, Chuck Fabian, Kevin Fabian, E.J. Fabian, and Julie Fabian Benecke.

She was predeceased by her husband of 36 years, Thomas C. Ryan in 2000, her brother and sister-in-law, John F. and E. Joyce Klett, brother, Joseph F. Klett, brother, Richard A. Klett, sisters-in-law Charlene Fitzgerald, Martha Fabian and Margaret (Peg) Noonan; niece Clare Noonan Bolich; nephews Chris Fabian and Joey DuMouchel.

Relatives & friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Monday July 22, 2024 at 1PM at Christ the King Catholic Church, 66 South Main St, Rutland, Vermont. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery. Arrangements are by Clifford Funeral Home, Rutland & Jones, Rich & Barnes Funeral Home, Portland, ME. Those wishing to send a tribute in Mary’s memory may do so at www.jonesrichandbarnes.com.In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Mary’s name to Compassus Hospice (http://www.compassus.com/), 163 US-1 Scarborough, ME 04074 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html).