Published March 19, 2021
PEABODY — Viola C. (Ryan) Ball, formerly a resident of Melrose since 1968, died peacefully on February 17, 2021 at the Brudnick Center for Living in Peabody at the age of 84.
Viola was born in St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada on June 23, 1936. She was the youngest of four children to the late James and Winifred Ryan.
Raised in Dorchester, she graduated from Monsignor Ryan Memorial High School in 1954. She worked for several years at the Shell Oil Company after graduating. She later worked as an administrative sssistant at the Massachusetts General Hospital for over 20 years.
Above all she was a caring and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She was an extremely creative person, especially with DIY projects. Whether it was stripping down an old bureau, painting the house, re-upholstering a sofa or sewing new curtains, she was always busy doing something to update the look in her home. But she always had time for her children. It could be attending their numerous sporting events throughout the years, picking up or dropping them off at college or just checking in with them with a quick phone call just to ask how everything was going and if they needed anything.
Her family was her greatest joy.
She married her late husband, Frank T. Ball, in 1962. They were married for 55 years. She was the loving mother of James F. Ball and his wife Linda of Stafford, VA, Dr. Jacquelyn M. Ball of Seattle WA and Mark H. Ball and his wife Elizabeth of Taunton. She was the proud grandmother of Shelby, Jacob, James, Nathan and Sadie. She was the caring sister of the late Collette Loftus and her husband John of Milton, the late James Ryan and his wife Phyllis of Woburn and the late Virginia Kipp of Marshfield. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St. Melrose, on Friday, March 19, 2021 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Those planning on attending the wake are required to follow CoOVID-19 protocol by wearing masks, keeping social distance, paying their respects to the family and exiting the funeral home to allow others to attend. There is a limit to the number of guests allowed inside the funeral home at one time.
A funeral Mass will be held at Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 1155 Main St. Wakefield on Friday at 11 a.m. Burial at Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose. To send a message of condolence please visit www.gatelyfh.com
