Jean (Taft) Ryan

Jean E. (Taft) Ryan, 87 years, of Monroe, MI, passed away, Monday, March 21, 2011 in the rehabilitation center at The Lutheran Home in Monroe, MI. Born February 29, 1924 in Monroe, MI, Jean was the daughter of the late Bert and Marie M. (Venier) Manausso. Jean was baptized and confirmed at St. John The Baptist Catholic Church. She also attended grade school at St. John’s and was a 1942 graduate of St. Mary’s Academy in Monroe. She married Louis Duvall on October 21, 1942 in Napoleon, OH. They renewed their vows on Valentine’s Day in 1943 at Immaculate Conception Church in San Diego, CA. Louis passed away on June 17, 1960 Jean then married Thomas Taft on September 16, 1961 in Monroe, Tom passed away on June 13, 1985. On December 31, 1989 in Florida Jean married Thomas Ryan, Sadly he too preceded her in death on January 25, 1999. Born and raised in Monroe, Jean moved to Bradenton, FL in 1983 and returned to Monroe in 2004. Jean was very active in the Monroe Community where she was the president of the Mercy Hospital Guild, president of the Monroe Lioness Club, board member of the Michigan Cancer Foundation where she co chaired the first Christmas Home Tour. Jean enjoyed golf and was an avid bridge player and belonged to several bridge clubs in Monroe and in Bradenton where she made many close friends. Jean had many special birthday party’s being a leap year baby, her most memorable birthday party as a child was her 16th birthday, when her mother gave her a formal dance at the Monroe Golf and Country Club. Her most cherished memory was when she took her four daughters and their spouses on a wonderful cruise. Jean is survived by her daughters; Susan Dobberstein (Thomas Gerweck) of Maybee, MI, Sandra (William) Vandenberghe Sr. of Monroe, Sally (Larry) Dunsmore of Bradenton, FL and Laura (Gary) Longmuir of Monroe, a brother and sister in law Ralph and Marris Manausso and a brother in law Robert Duffey all of Monroe. Grandchildren; Renee Darrow, Catherine Dobberstein, Amy Fortune, Stephen Dobberstein, Heidi Galati, William Vandenberghe Jr., Tracey Antonelli, Shayne Dunsmore, David, Jeffery and Lindsey Longmuir, great grandchildren; Mitchell, Bailey, and Jaime Baker, Caitlin, Ryan and Natalie Fortune, Emma and Gus Dobberstein, Vito and Valentina Galati, Brittany, Eric, and Emily Vandenberghe, Jason Antonelli, Dillon and Bailey Budde, Brady and Brooklyn Longmuir, and several nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her parents and husbands, Jean was preceded in death by her son; Thomas Stevens Taft Jr., a grandson Louis Dunsmore, son in law; Robert Dobberstein, 3 sisters; Marie Herzog, Dorothy Wuest and Rita Duffey, brothers in law; Edward Herzog and Gerald Wuest, and nephews; Gerald Wuest II and Joel Duffey. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 from 1-8 PM in the Bacarella Funeral Home, 1201 S. Telegraph Rd., in Monroe where the a scripture service will be held at 6 PM. On Thursday, March 24, 2011 she will lie in state at St. John The Baptist Catholic Church from 10:00 am until Mass of the Resurrection celebrating her life at 11:00 AM. Fr. James A. Smalarz pastor of the church will officiate. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Monroe. Memorial contributions are suggested to Amster Lupus Butterfly Walk or the Monroe County Special Olympics.