Ray John Ryan, Jr.

Ray John Ryan, Jr., of Colchester, passed away at home on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 2021.  His loving family was by his side to the end.  Born on April 1, 1929 at the family homestead in Marlborough, he was a son of the late Ray and Alice (Hart) Ryan, Sr.  Ray grew up in Colchester and attended school there.   After high school he worked briefly in Maryland for the Bartlett Tree Company.  While in Maryland he met and married his beloved wife, Mirian Amos on July 22, 1951. Soon after, the couple moved to Colchester where they made their home and raised their family. Ray was a communicant of St. Andrew’s Church and a life member of the St. Joseph’s Polish Society there.  A strong patriot and proud veteran, Ray served in the US Army during the Korean War Era.  He continued his military involvement through the years with the Army Reserves, membership in the American Legion, Donald A. Bigelow Post 54 Colchester and VFW, Adler-Boluck, Post 6990 Colchester. Finally and for many years, Ray served with the military funeral honor guard, known as the Antique Veterans of Colchester, providing funeral honors for countless veterans in Colchester and surrounding towns.  Ray retired several years ago after a long and successful career as a Journeyman Carpenter with the Union, Local 24 and 30. He never quite quit using his carpentry skills, helping family and friends with their home repair and maintenance.  Ray will be remembered by his family as a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.  He will be sadly missed but remembered with love by his wife of 70 years, Mirian; his children and their spouses, Michael (Selina) Ryan of Colchester, Daniel Ryan of East Haddam, Sally Ryan of Colchester; six grandchildren and their spouses, Matthew (Danielle) Ryan, Benjamin Ryan and his companion, Sanna Piispanen, James (Lizbeth) Ryan, Lindsay (Michael) Therian, Hunter Graves, Jenavieve Ryan; four great grandchildren, Jackson and Theodore Ryan, Kara and Kacey Therian; many very special friends in the Antique Veterans Group and numerous extended family members and friends.  In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by two brothers, Burton and Alan Ryan.  Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 30th from 4 – 6 pm at the Aurora-McCarthy Funeral Home, 167 Old Hartford Rd., Colchester.  The funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, Dec. 1st, gathering at 10:30 am, with the funeral at 11:00 am.  Burial will follow in New St. Andrew Cemetery in Colchester with full military honors.  Donations in his memory may be made to the Colchester Veterans Honor Guard, PO Box 54, Colchester 06415 or to the Colchester Hayward Volunteer Fire Department, 54 Old Hartford Rd., Colchester 06415.  For online condolences, please visit www.auroramccarthyfuneralhome.com   

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