Mary B. Ryan, 71, died peacefully on July 5, 2018, surrounded by family. Mary, daughter of Nicola and Gloria Balestra, was born in the small mountainous village of Roccacinquemiglia in the region of Abruzzo, Italy. She was the eldest of six children. Mary and her family immigrated to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in August 1956 aboard the SS Giulio Cesare after a fateful and fortunate delay caused the family to abandon earlier plans to travel aboard the SS Andrea Doria, which subsequently collided with the MS Stockholm and sunk to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean in July 1956. Her enduring and life-long passion for family, faith, community, and education was nurtured in many ways by her grandfather Massimo DelleDonne from a very young age. His encouragement played an important role in Marys educational pursuits that resulted in a high school diploma from the Ursuline Academy for Young Women (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duquesne University (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) after a brief period of service at a convent in Lexington, Kentucky. Mary married Michael Ryan in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1971. The young couple relocated to Big Rapids for Mike to pursue an academic career at Ferris State University after he completed his doctoral studies in Buffalo, New York. Together, Mary and Mike raised four sons, restored a historic home, and were actively involved in the Ferris and Big Rapids communities for nearly four decades. Kindhearted, spirited, and formidable, Mary always tried to find the good in others, let optimism triumph over pessimism, and rarely shied away from a challenge. One of her favorite quotes by the Danish mathematician Piet Hein perfectly captured her approach to life, "Problems worthy of attack prove their worth by fighting back." She understood firsthand the power of literacy and education to transform lives, create opportunities, and better understand as well as sometimes challenge and change the world around us for the better. A lifelong learner, she devoured a wide range of fiction and non-fiction works on a broad array of subjects as well as became inspired by seminal authors such as Rachel Carson (Silent Spring, 1962), Jane Jacobs (The Death and Life of Great American Cities, 1961), Julia Child (Mastering the Art of French Cooking, 1961), and Theodor Seuss Geisel (Oh, The Places Youll Go!, 1990) among many others. Mary was involved in a number of organizations that reflected her interests in building bridges and community, encouraging literacy, protecting the environment, and promoting historic preservation, including the Big Rapids Public Schools, the City of Big Rapids, the Friends of the Big Rapids Community Library, the General Federation of Womens Club, the Good Neighbors Association, Recycle of Mecosta County, and St. Paul Campus Parish to name a few. As president of the Friends of the Big Rapids Community Library, she was a tireless advocate for the library and played an instrumental role in a number of literacy programs, outreach efforts and fundraising activities. The Friends hosted countless activities to raise resources in order to establish an endowment with the Big Rapids Community Foundation, provide ongoing support for the successful summer reading program, renovate the historic library building, and encourage child literacy by providing over 13,000 books to every baby born at the Spectrum Big Rapids Hospital since its establishment in 1994. Left to carry on and honor her memory are her loving husband, Mike; her four sons and daughter-in-laws, Shawn (Gina), Patrick, Kevin and Michael (Lynn); her grandchildren Jacob, Alec, Evan, Elly, Dylan and Avery; her siblings and their spouses, Tina (Tony), Virginia (Bill), Rosa (Hugh), Michael, and Nick Jr. (Amy); and her many nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews, in addition to many great friends. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 10, 2018 at St. Paul Campus Parish, One Damascus Rd. Big Rapids, MI 49307. Burial will follow at the Mt. Carmel Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, July 9th with a Rosary being prayed at 7:30 p.m. at the Daggett Gilbert Funeral Home, 13985 Northland Dr, Big Rapids, MI 49307. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to The Friends of the Big Rapids Community Library. Share a memory or condolence with the family by clicking the guestbook tab at www.daggettgilbertfuneralhome.com Mass of the Resurrection Tuesday, July 10, 2018 11:00 AM St. Paul Campus Parish 1 Damascus Rd Big Rapids,MI 49307