Sr. Frances Ryan, IHM, 73, died Dec. 26, at IHM Sisters Motherhouse inMonroe. She was 73 and had been a member of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Monroe for 55 years.

She was one of three children of John Albert and Frances (Baker) Ryan, born Jan. 25, 1938 in Detroit and given the name Frances Ann. She attended St. Michael (Livonia) and Epiphany (Detroit) elementary schools and graduated from St. Cecilia High School in Detroit. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Marygrove College and her master’s degree from Wayne State University in Detroit.

She taught in formal education for 16 years at Holy Redeemer, Detroit; St. Patrick, Carleton; St. Joseph, Erie; and St. Hugo of the Hills, Bloomfield Hills. After a year of renewal, Sister Frances began her ministry in religious education at St. Blase Parish inSterling Heightsas religious education section head. After three years at St. Blase she went to St. Martin de Porres Parish in Warren for the next eight years as director of religious education and the CCD Program.

In 1989 Sr. Ryan began eight years as the director of the IHM Associate Program. Her next ministry was parish minister at St. Louise Parish in Warren. She retired in 2001, and in 2007 moved to the IHM Health Care Center at the Motherhouse, where she resided until her death. She had been under the care of Mercy Memorial Hospice ofMonroe.

She is survived by her sister, Mary Agnes (John Michael) IHM, and nieces and nephews.  Her brother, John A., died in March 2010.

Sr. Ryan’s funeral Mass was Dec. 29 at the IHM Motherhouse.

Memorials to the IHM Retirement Fund, 610 W. Elm Ave., Monroe, MI 48162-7909.