Ryan, Sondra I.

Sondra I. Ryan (née Weethee), 81, died on September 21, 2021 in Chicago, IL after a long battle with cancer. Sondra is survived by daughter, Hon. Kristyna C. Ryan (David); grandchildren, Clare and Henry of Oak Park, IL; son, John P. Welsh (Kate); granddaughters, Sarah Kamento, and Madeleine Welsh of Columbus, OH. She was preceded in death by parents Hazel and Curtis Weethee, love of her life James J. Welsh Jr., ex-husband Kenneth C. Ryan, beloved son Brian D. Welsh and cherished siblings Catherine Stucke, Revella Breeyear, Ronald Weethee, and Myrna Benedetti. Sondra was born in 1940 in Marietta, OH and graduated from Columbus South High School in 1958. She married James Welsh in 1959 and they welcomed sons John in 1960 and Brian in 1961. Jim served in Vietnam and died in a car accident in 1966. She married Kenneth Ryan in 1968, and welcomed daughter, Kristyna in 1971. Sondra worked as a secretary and was a contestant on Concentration in 1968. She was an avid Bridge and Poker player and enjoyed knitting, crochet, tatting, and quilting. Her health declined after the tragic death of her son, Brian, and she moved to Chicago in 2017 so daughter Kristyna could provide care. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2019 and refused all treatment. She spent her last day with her daughter, Kristyna, and passed peacefully on Tuesday evening.