OSWEGO, NY – Mary Fran (Donovan) Ratigan, 57, and a resident of 3456 County Route 57 in the Town of Volney (Bundyville), died Tuesday morning July 21, 2009, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse.
Mrs. Ratigan was born in Syracuse and was the daughter of the late Francis J. “Stoie†and Mary Frances Raby Donovan.
She was the wife of James D. Ratigan.
Mary Fran loved God and His Roman Catholic Church.
She had spent the last 20 years volunteering in various capacities at Trinity Catholic School, St. Peter’s Church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church and St. Mary’s Bazaar.
Her volunteer work also included other charitable organizations such as Human Concerns where she had ultimately served as the voluntary director.
Her love of children was what brought the most satisfaction to her life.
She adored her nieces, nephews and godchildren.
She considered the many children she cared for over 45 years as her greatest blessing.
She had been employed by Niagara Mohawk between 1978 and 1995.
She was a 1969 graduate of Oswego Catholic High and a 1971 graduate of CCBI.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by two brothers, James C. (Theresa) Donovan and Peter J. (Rose) Donovan both of Oswego; one sister, Nancy E. (Ron) Knight of Fremont, Calif.; six nieces and nephews, Ellen, Jamie, Patrick Stoie, Maggie, MoMo and Clare Donovan all of Oswego.
Funeral service will be Friday 11:30 a.m. from the Dain-Cullinan Funeral Home and at noon in St. Mary’s Church where Rev. Stephen P. Wirkes will celebrate a Requiem High Mass in the Extraordinary Form.
Burial will be in St. Paul’s Cemetery where Rev. Patrick A. Ratigan will officiate at graveside.
Calling hours will be Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the funeral home.
The Rosary will begin at 8:30 p.m. Thursday with eulogies beginning at 8:45 p.m.
Those wishing to remember Mary Fran should perform multiple acts of kindness anonymously.
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I WILL MISS MARY SO MUCH SHE ALWAYS MADE TIME TO LISTEN TO ME AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS TO MY PROBLEMS. SHE WAS LOVED BY ADULTS.
MARY WAS MY BIG SISTER FROM THE AGE OF 9 UNTIL I WAS ABOUT 15 I WILL NEVER FORGET THE NIGHTS I SPENT WITH HER AND JIMMY AS SHE LOVINGLY REFERRED TO HIM AND ALL THE FUN TIMES WE HAD MAY SHE REST IN PEACE I WILL ALWAYS HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE FOR HER IN MY HEART