Marie Bernadette (Eldridge) Ryan, 73 of Duxbury, died at her home surrounded by her family on Friday, May 6 after a two-year battle against pancreatic cancer. 

Born in 1938 in Boston to Bernard and Mary (Coyne) Eldridge, she graduated Mission High School,  from Catherine Laboure Nursing School in 1958, from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy with a B.A. in nursing in 1986 and received her Masters in nursing from UMass Boston in 1993.  She spent the first half of her nursing career at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston for 25 years. The second half of her career was as a school nurse at the Duxbury Public Schools. After her retirement, Mrs. Ryan and her husband John Ryan traveled to Ireland and took frequent trips to Florida to visit their children and grandchildren.  She enjoyed knitting, painting, skiing in New Hampshire, and writing with her grandchildren. 

Mrs. Ryan leaves her husband of 52 years,  John Brendan Ryan; her children,  Lisa Burwell and her husband, Gerald of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., John M. Ryan of East Bridgewater, Laurie A. Crowley and her husband Robert of Peterborough, N.H., Mariane Duffey and her husband Thomas of Duxbury, James P. Ryan and his wife Renee of Santa Rosa Beach, FL; and Mark D. Ryan and his wife Stephanie of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., and 15 grandchildren.

Visiting hours will be held at the Shepherd Funeral Home, 216 Main St (Rt. 106) in Kingston, on Thursday, May 12 from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.  A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. at the Holy Family Church in Duxbury, on Friday, May 13. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Mission Grammar School, 94 Saint Alphonsus St, Roxbury, MA 02120.  Burial will be private.