Nancy (Welch) Ryan, 88, passed away peacefully on February 27, 2025 following a brief illness.

Faith, family, and helping others were essential to Nancy. Born and raised in Marblehead, she spent many summers sailing Brutal Beasts in Marblehead Harbor. At the age of 12, she contracted rheumatic fever and spent five months recuperating at home until she was treated with a dose of the new drug, penicillin. During her time at home, she read voraciously. She learned about Jane Addams, a progressive social worker who founded a house to help immigrant families establish themselves in Chicago during the late 19th century. This book inspired her future career path. After graduating from Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, she attended Trinity College in Washington, DC. Following college, she earned her master's in social work at Boston College and began a long, rewarding, and varied career as a social worker with Catholic Charities.

While Nancy was a trained Social Worker, her dedication to social services was not confined to her career but permeated every aspect of her life. She began her professional journey in adoption and community services, addressing critical issues such as homelessness, housing, and poverty. Her legacy, however, extends far beyond her professional achievements. In 1981, she founded My Brother's Table in Lynn, MA, a testament to her unwavering commitment to serving the hungry, lonely, and those in need of a warm meal. Her impact on the community is immeasurable, and her legacy will continue to inspire others to follow in her footsteps.

Nancy was bestowed with many honors during her life, including the Archdiocese of Boston's Cheverus award, Trinity College's Alumnae Achievement Award and being an Olympic torch bearer for the 1996 Summer Olympics.  However, her most incredible honor was being a wife, mother and grandmother.  She inspired and pushed her four children to reach their dreams.   She loved attending her grandchildren's sporting events and spent many afternoons with her grandchildren baking cookies for My Brothers Table guests, friends, and neighbors.  In retirement, she and her husband Joe spent time in Naples, Florida, where she enjoyed time with new and old friends and pursued new volunteer opportunities, including assisting in an elementary school that educated children of local farm workers, and working with Habitat for Humanity and Catholic Charities. She was active in her Church in Marblehead and Naples..

Nancy leaves behind a loving family, including her son William Ryan and his wife Tini of Jakarta, Indonesia, her daughter Patty Ryan Sheehan and husband Dana Sheehan of Nahant, her son Joseph Ryan and his wife Melissa of Marblehead, and her son Mark Ryan and his wife Shea of Marblehead. She was a proud and loving grandmother to George, Joseph, Maria, Hannah, Nancy, Patty, Liam, Amina, Aidan, Caitlyn, Emma, Megan Ryan, and Julianne Sheehan. Her love for her grandchildren was boundless, and she cherished every moment spent with them. She was also a beloved Aunt to many nieces and nephews, with a special bond with her Goddaughter Mary MacDonald.

Her husband, Joseph F. Ryan, with whom she shared 50 wonderful years of marriage, preceded her death. She is also predeceased by her parents, William and Anne Welch; brothers William, Robert, and Richard Welch; and sister Patricia Davern.

Visiting hours are Wednesday, March 5th, 4-8 PM at the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal Street, (cor. of North St), Salem. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 85 Atlantic Ave., Marblehead, on Thursday, March 6th, at 10:30 AM. Burial will be private. Instead of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to My Brother's Table, Lynn, Massachusetts, and Habitat for Humanity of Collier County, Florida.

For additional information or an online guest book, please call 978-744-0497 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com.