Submitted by: Dan Rich

Betty Jane Ryan

March 3, 1934 - Jan. 20, 2008

South Bend Tribune 1/22/2008
GRANGER - Betty Jane Ryan, 73, of Granger, Indiana, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer at 10:03 p.m. Sunday, January 20th, in her residence She was born on March 3, 1934, in Michigan City, Indiana, to the late Mary (Hartwig) and Theron Haggins. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Marion Catt.

On April 4, 1959, in Osceola, Indiana, as Betty Jane Haggins, she married Richard Ryan, who survives. Mrs. Ryan is also survived by two sons, Edward (Lori) Ryan of St. Peters, Missouri, and Patrick (Cindy) Ryan of South Bend; a daughter, Katharine Ryan of South Bend; three grandchildren, Heather, Christina and Evan Ryan; and a sister, JoAnne (Joe) Haugen of Myrtle Creek, Oregon.

Mrs. Ryan was a certified and licensed social worker for the State of Indiana and was a certified marriage and family therapist, also for the state. She was the founder, owner/operator for over 25 years of the Hypnosis and Counseling Center in Roseland, Indiana, where she assisted clients with smoking cessation, weight loss, insomnia, phobias, concentration, witness recall, relaxation and self-hypnosis. She was a pioneer in the area with the first practice of its kind in northern Indiana. She lectured extensively in the area to universities, schools, organizations and businesses. She was an instructor in clinical and forensic hypnosis for the South Bend Police Academy and was also an instructor for the law enforcement training board for the State of Indiana. Mrs. Ryan was a 1954 graduate of Michigan City Elston High School and received her BS in general studies in 1983 from I.U.S.B. and her MS in education from I.U.S.B. in 1986. She loved to garden, make wreaths, paint, visit garage sales, and play the slots. Betty Jane Ryan was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend and will be greatly missed by all of those whose lives she touched, including all of her beloved pets.

Services for Mrs. Ryan will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, in the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home North, 17033 Cleveland Road, South Bend, where friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, and one hour prior to services on Thursday. Cremation will follow the services at Welsheimer Crematory. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637; or to Pet Refuge, 2300 W. 6th St., Mishawaka, IN 46544.