Amy Ryan

Amy Theresa Ryan, 57, of Raleigh, North Carolina, died February 15 following a long illness. Amy and her twin sister, Bridget, were born in alphabetical order at Good Samaritan Hospital, Suffern, New York on September 21, 1965 (cue the Earth, Wind & Fire song!). After establishing many lifelong childhood friends in Suffern, the family relocated to Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania in 1982. Following high school, Amy attended Penn Tech and then East Stroudsburg University, graduating in 1987.

When the large East Coast accounting firm that Amy worked for closed its doors in 1996, Amy took that as an opportunity to go back to school to study software engineering at the Chubb Institute. This brave move launched an exciting new career in software consulting that brought adventures with four coworkers who became her closest and dearest friends - Sandra Connell, Jen McClure, Maryellen McKeon, and Carla Spinelli. This fun-loving team of outgoing professional women worked on short- and long-term assignments in such locations as London; Detroit; Newark; Raleigh; New York City; and St. John, New Brunswick, Canada. They also traveled extensively, vacationing to exotic locales near and far including a 2006 Amazon Rainforest trip that included climbing to Machu Picchu.
Always a sophisticated dresser, her meticulous appearance never failed to leave positive impressions. She loved fine white wine, rolling the dice at casinos across the country, and a good joke well told. Quick to laugh, Amy’s wide smile, brilliant blue eyes and authentic personality won over anyone in her presence.

In 2008 Amy arrived in Raleigh for another temporary project assignment, but other plans came about when she met the love of her life, Louis Buonpane, resulting in the City of Oaks becoming her permanent place of residence. Amy loved vacationing on the Outer Banks at Nags Head, Duck, and Cape Hatteras.

In addition to her partner Lou, his daughters Morgan and Marisa, and her beloved boxer (Baxter), Amy is survived by six siblings: Deborah Ryan; Greg Ryan (Brooke Maroldi); Hilary Ohm; Jeff Ryan (Suzie); Meg Ryan; and twin sister Bridget Farrell (Joe Kort); as well as seven nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Ruth Ryan; as well as a niece, Delaney Farrell.

Planning is underway for a celebration of life to be held later this year. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Transitions LifeCare in Raleigh or to the American Cancer Society.