Helen E. (Ryan) Lally, 100, of South Yarmouth died Saturday July 28, 2012 at Sacred Heart Home. She was the wife of the late John F. Lally.
Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late John H. and Bridget M. (Downes) Ryan, she lived in New Bedford for many years before moving to South Yarmouth in 1979.
She was a communicant of St. Pius the Tenth Church, where she was a member of the Women's Guild.
Mrs. Lally was formerly employed as a registered nurse, first in Boston for 13 years doing private duty nursing and working in the T.B. Division of Boston City Hospital. After her marriage in 1942, she returned to New Bedford and worked at St. Luke's Hospital. In 1945 she joined the staff of the New Bedford Visiting Nurse Service where she worked until her retirement in 1969.
She was a graduate of Holy Family High School and Boston City Hospital School of Nursing.
Survivors include two nephews, Dennis M. Ryan of Vienna, VA and John P. Ryan of Fairhaven.
She was the sister of the late Edward L. Ryan and John J. Ryan.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Lawrence Church, New Bedford on Thursday at 10:30 AM. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford beginning at 9:30 AM prior to the Funeral Mass. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.