Constance Pelletier Ryan (MacKenzie)

Much like when Mother Teresa said “if you can’t feed a hundred people, just feed one”, Connie never set out to change the world, she merely sought to take care of those around her. She learned early on that when challenges and responsibilities arise “you just have to do it”. After her father’s death during the Great Depression, she thought nothing of working to help support the family. Still, it didn’t stop her from becoming valedictorian of her class at Riverside High School. Although awarded a scholarship to Temple University, she again changed her plans at the start of World War II, this time to support the war effort. Working for the FBI she wrote intelligence reports on Nazi sympathizers and communist cells within the US. After the war, Connie put her writing skills to work at a Philadelphia advertising agency and for several newspapers in the Philadelphia-South Jersey area. Balancing her roles as wife and mother, she worked for more than a decade as public relations director at Zurbrugg Hospital in Riverside and later as director of volunteers at Bridgeton Hospital in South Jersey. rnA longtime Delanco resident, Connie was always volunteering her time and resources to help her neighbors. Whether gathering clothes for less fortunate families, giving her time to help disabled children or even writing pieces under the name “Sir Roger de Coverly” to support her local Democratic Party, she was always willing to give of her time. In her later years Connie did get to focus on herself a bit. She traveled to London, Paris and Vienna, helped plan the reunions for her high school class and even finished her bachelor’s degree in English at Rutgers University Camden when she was 72.rnConnie is survived by her children: Bonnie and Rory (“Cal”) Maradonna of Cinnaminson, Patricia Ryan of Maryland, and William Ryan of Colorado, her granddaughters: Carlie Maradonna, Ann Grozier, Lynn Ryan, and Dana Ryan, as well as by her great-grandson, Nolan Ryan Latzko. She also is survived by her sister, Helene Marinelli and brother, Joseph MacKenzie.rnCome celebrate Connie’s 91 tenacious years (July 2, 1920-May 8, 2012) Friday from 6-8:30 PM and Saturday from 9-10 AM at the Sweeney Funeral Home, Riverside. Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 10:30 AM Saturday at Resurrection Parish (Holy Name Site), Conrow Rd., Delran. Interment St. Peter’s Cemetery, Riverside. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Constance M. Ryan Scholarship at Rutgers University Camden, 411 Cooper Street, Camden NJ 08102.rn