Meet Mrs. Ryan  - Wife of Jim Ryan (Candidate for IL Governor) 

Marie Ryan, wife of Attorney General Jim Ryan, has made a career out of supporting the people she loves.  She is the mother of six children; John, James, Matthew, Amy, Patrick and Annie, who is deceased.  Marie and Attorney General Ryan also have five grandchildren, Caitlyn, Joseph, Sarah, Grace and Emma.

An only child herself, Marie was born in Chicago and spent her teenage years in Elmhurst. In 1967, she married her first love and high school sweetheart, Jim Ryan.

Marie was graduated from Rosary College in River Forest, Illinois in 1968 with a bachelor of arts degree in American Studies.  She then took a job as an elementary school teacher.

A few years later, Marie left teaching when she and Jim decided to start their family.  "Being a mom is more than a full-time job, especially with six kids.  But I wouldn't have done it any other way.  I feel so lucky to have been able to stay at home and raise my children," said Marie Ryan.  "The most important part of my job as a wife, mother, and grandmother is to be there when my family needs me."

"My husband Jim is out there doing what we dreamed of while growing up in the 1960's.  He is trying to make Illinois a better place for our children to live.  And I'm doing my part by being there for our kids and for him."

When it came time for some of the Ryan children to begin college, Marie went back to work part-time as assistant director of the Elmhurst Park District's Before and After School Program at the Hawthorne School.  After five years as assistant director, Marie was promoted to director of the Emerson School program.  In addition, since 1991 Marie has also managed to take time out to teach pre-school children two days a week.

"I think of all the things I could have done differently in my life.  But I'm content and fulfilled with the choices I've made.  I only hope that we've done our best with our children and that what we were unable to give them financially, we have made up for in love and good times."