Rhea Cecile Ryan (nee Suprenant)
March 7, 1932 - May 9, 2026
Rhea was born on March 7, 1932, in Quincy, Massachusetts, to George and Edna (nee Landry) Suprenant. She was the beloved wife of the late William (Bill) L. Ryan (1932–2020), and loving sister of the late Paul Suprenant (husband of Carol) of Fort Myers, Florida, and is survived by her sister Helene Mello (wife of Paul) of Athol, Massachusetts.
Rhea was raised in Wakefield, Massachusetts, graduating in the class of 1950 from Wakefield High School. She attended the Mt. Auburn Nursing program and graduated as a Registered Nurse (RN) in 1952.
Rhea met her husband Bill Ryan on a blind date. They married on July 19, 1958 and were parents to five children: William P. Ryan (and his wife Debra Bard) of Los Angeles, California; the late Christopher G. Ryan (survived by his wife, Maria, nee Catalano), of Tyngsboro, Massachusetts; Margaret R. Charlebois (and her husband Steven) of Jericho, Vermont; Denise E. Ryan (and her husband Austin Tichenor) of Glencoe, Illinois; and Peter J. Ryan (and his wife Sharon, nee Wheaton), of Hudson, New Hampshire.
Rhea was a dedicated nurse for 45 years, mostly in the Oncology Department at Saint John's in Lowell (Saints Memorial Medical Center). She and Bill moved to Tewksbury in 1973, where she was a devoted member of Saint William’s Church, a member of their choir, a local sports fan, quilter, and a hockey mom (before there was such a label). She loved musicals, swimming, reading Danielle Steele novels, and watching the Hallmark Channel. For the last 20 years of her life, she lived in Hudson, New Hampshire.
Rhea was a devoted and loving grandmother to Julia Ryan, Tessa Bouthot (Alex), Jenna Rinaldi (Alex), Patrick Ryan (Caroline), Chantel Charlebois (Jack Hegman), Quincy Tichenor (Caroline), Bridgette Charlebois, Joseph Ryan, Sophia Ryan, Margaret (aka Daisy) Tichenor, Jacob Ryan, and Rachel Ryan. Rhea was a loving great-grandmother to Maeve Bouthot, Naomi Rinaldi, and most recently Henry Hegman.
Rhea passed away in North Chelmsford on May 9th, surrounded by family. In place of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Tyngsboro High School Peer Assistance and Leadership program (via Venmo @THS_PALs or by check made out to Tessa Bouthot and mailed to Tyngsboro High School, 36 Norris Road, Tyngsboro, 01879).
Rhea C. Ryan will be waked at 9-11am on Friday, May 29th at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, followed by a funeral at Saint William’s Church in Tewksbury at 11:30am. Graveside ceremonies will be at 1:30pm at Saint Patrick’s Cemetery in Stoneham. A