Funeral Mass for Dorothy Jean (Walenta) Ryan, 90, of Rosenberg will be held at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 1416 George Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471, at 10 AM on Tuesday, May 7, 2013, with interment following at Greenlawn Cemetery, Rosenberg, TX. Father Bill Bartniski will be officiating.

Visitation will be held on Monday, May 6 at Garmany and Carden Funeral Chapel, 1201 Fourth Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471, from 5:00-7:00 PM, with a Rosary at 7:00 PM.

Dorothy was born on October 25, 1922 in Fairchild to Emil H. and Edna (Horak) Walenta. The family moved to Rosenberg and Dorothy attended Robert E. Lee School and Rosenberg High School graduating in 1939. She was never absent or tardy for the 11 years of her schooling. Attendance at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, the University of Texas in Austin, and the University of Houston led to a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education.

Before her marriage she worked at Dow Chemical in Freeport, Anderson-Clayton in Houston, and the Tax Collector's office in Richmond. Later she taught business subjects in Needville, East Bernard, and Lamar Consolidated School Districts.

Dorothy married Herbert B. Ryan on May 16, 1946 and they spent 60 years together before his death in 2006. Mrs. Ryan passed away on May 4, 2013 in Richmond after a brief illness.

She is survived by her daughter, Beverly Richard, and husband, Michael, and son, Martin Ryan, and wife, Peggy. Also surviving Dorothy are grandchildren: Ryan Richard and wife, Blanca; Luke Richard and wife, Andrea; Sara Ryan and boyfriend, Jeff Soderstrom; and Rebecca Millhench and husband, Aaron. She is also survived by great granddaughter, Hannah Richard, and many other relatives and friends.

Mrs. Ryan has been involved in many organizations over the years including: Catholic Daughters (being a charter member and first Grand Regent), Holy Rosary Altar Society, Parents Club of Holy Rosary School, American Legion Auxiliary, Royal Neighbors, Woman's Club of Rosenberg, Fort Bend Museum Docent Society, Life Member of the Fort Bend County Fair Association, KJZT, Czech Heritage Society, Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, AARP, and the Rosenberg Railroad Museum.

From 1989-1999 Dorothy served the City of Rosenberg as a Councilwoman for six years and as Mayor for four years. She served on the Rosenberg Image Committee since it began. She also served on the Central Appraisal District Review Board for a number of years. Dorothy was the chairman of a committee which raised over $2,500,000 to bring the Fort Bend Technical Center to the Rosenberg-Richmond area. Her service also included the Houston/Galveston Area Council as a board member and as an elected representative of small cities in the thirteen counties surrounding Houston.

Pall Bearers will be Ryan Richard, Luke Richard, Aaron Millhench, Jeff Soderstrom, Paul Clayton, and Walter Tappe.

The family would like to thank the staff at Richmond Health Care Center, the staff of Houston Hospice, Joe Hochman, RN, and Dr. Owen Capocyan for their care and compassion.

For those wishing to honor Dorothy, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 570127, Houston, TX 77257, or to Holy Rosary Church, 1416 George Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471.

Condolence messages may be written for the Ryan family at www.garmanycarden.com.

Services are under the direction of Garmany & Carden Funeral Directors, 1201 Fourth Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471 (281)342-4671.