Emily Kathryn Ronan, 88, formerly of Phoenix, AZ, died April 20, 2024, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. She was born September 13, 1935, in Mount Morris, MI, to Franklin and Erma (Hennen) Dyer.
Emily often spoke fondly of her childhood years raising rabbits with her mother and her sister, Rose, listening to and singing with her mother and how her father was a good storyteller. It was also early on that she developed a love of the outdoors and gardening. Emily and Rose would work a garden with fruits and vegetables and can them together.
Emily was a devout Catholic her entire life. After graduating 8th Grade from Sacred Heart School, Emily continued her education by going to live with the sisters at St. Joseph’s Convent in Oxford, MI. At the age of 16, after finishing high school, she decided to stay and took her vows as a sister of the Dominican Order. It was there and then that she began to teach. By 1971, Emily decided she wanted to “change her style of living” and left the convent, but continued her teaching career.
In the 1972 school year, she would meet Michael J. Ronan, an assistant principal of the Michael O’Sullivan school at which they were both set to work. On June 23, 1973, the two were married in Flint, MI. They would go on to raise their family in both Michigan and Arizona, and of course, Emily would always have a garden.
Emily continued to teach and for a time served as a director at a number of daycare centers and a private school. Her favorite classes to teach were the preschool students. Emily would retire in 2000.
She was always calm in her demeanor, no matter the situation, selfless, and the rock of her family. Emily was a member of St. Joan of Arc Parish, Phoenix, AZ, followed by St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, Cave Creek, AZ where she enjoyed singing in the choir.
Immediately after finishing chemotherapy and beating cancer in 2006, she and her husband fulfilled a lifelong dream of traveling to Italy and to the Vatican. On their trip, despite Emily’s temporarily weakened state, she was a force of nature, never missing an excursion. After the birth of her first grandchild in 2009, Emily shifted into grandma mode. She would babysit during the days and spend as much time with her grandchildren as she could, until they moved away in 2013. After moving to Kansas in 2017 to be closer to the grandchildren, Emily became a member of the Church of the Holy Cross, Hutchinson.
Michael passed on February 6, 2020, after the two had shared nearly 47 years of marriage. Emily spent her final years enjoying the love and care of her grandchildren. She passed away the afternoon following her youngest grandchild’s confirmation in the Catholic faith. In the days leading up, she was a proud grandmother.
Emily is survived by: son, Marc Ronan (Hollie) of Hutchinson; daughter, Susan Gourley (Vicki) of Las Vegas, NV; grandchildren, Brendan Troy Ronan, Grace Kathryn Lenae Ronan, and Gavin Richard Ronan; sister, Rose Pileri of Flushing, MI; brother, Herb Dyer (Carol) of Onekama, MI; sisters-in-law Patricia Redding (Peter) and Peggy Ronan both of Troy, MI and many numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by: her parents and brothers, Ronald Dyer and James Dyer.
Friends may call from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. EST Thursday, May 2, 2024, at A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home, 2600 Crooks Road, (between Maple and Big Beaver), Troy, MI. The Rosary will begin at 7:00 p.m. EST at the funeral home. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. EST Friday, May 3, 2024, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 280 E. Square Lake Rd, Troy, MI. Visitation at church will begin at 9:30 a.m. EST. Private family burial will take place in Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery, Southfield, MI.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Down Syndrome Society of Wichita, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.