Mary Jane Ryan

Visitation for Mary Jane Ryan (nee Dawson), 75, of Streamwood, IL since July 2020, formerly of Kauai, Hawaii will be held Saturday, February 5, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. until the time of the Funeral Services at 2:00 p.m. at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, 201 N. Northwest Highway, Palatine, IL.  A private Inurnment will be held at a later date at Fairview Memorial Park Cemetery, Northlake, IL. Family and friends are welcome to watch the Funeral Service via this streaming link: Funeral Service for Mary Jane Ryan

Mary Jane was born November 21, 1946 in Stearns, Kentucky, and passed away peacefully at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village, IL from the complications of COVID-19.

Mary Jane was the beloved wife of the late Laurence Ryan and the late John Pettibone; loving mother of John R. (Cathy) Pettibone; loving grandmother of Crystal Pettibone, Danielle Pettibone, Lincoln Pettibone and Brian Pettibone; loving great-grandmother of Ian Hess, Colin Pettibone Cozad, Sofia Moreno, and Kealia Bakke; dear daughter of the late Ransom and Ruth (nee Callahan) Dawson.

Her primary love was being involved with her family, which for 18 years was long distance from Hawaii.  She was extremely proud of her service in the Air Force Reserve.  She also found great joy in caring for patients by using her nursing skills.  She enjoyed cross stitching quilts for her grandchildren and great grandchildren, volunteering at the library in Kauai, and reading.

Mary Jane became a registered nurse in 1981 after graduating from William Rainey Harper College.  The following year she obtained her Associate degree in Applied Science from Harper College.  She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at Northern Illinois University in 1991.

She was employed by Northwest Community Hospital from 1981 to 1997. Her professional experience included medical, surgical, and oncology care for 7 years followed by 9 years in critical care/coronary care.  Subsequently, she was employed at Wilcox Memorial Hospital in Kauai, Hawaii as a coronary care nurse.

Mary Jane was a veteran of the United States Air Force Reserve.  She served as a flight instructor/flight nurse with the 63rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron from 1989 to 1996.  Captain Mary Jane Pettibone Ryan, used her skills as an intensive care/coronary care nurse while serving in Desert Storm/Desert Shield in 1991.

She had been a member of Sigma Theta Tau, nursing honor society; Respiratory Nursing Society; National League of Nursing; American Legion; Veteran of Foreign Wars; Reserve Officers Association; Aerospace Medical Association; AACN; and ENA.

In lieu of flowers, memorials will be appreciated to National Veterans Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, or Anderson Humane Animal Shelter, Elgin, Il.