Rosella C. Ryan, granddaughter of Irish settlers, dies at age 90
Posted: 5/16/02
by John Gessner
Staff Writer
A chapter in Burnsville history closed May 8, 2002, with the death of Rosella C. Ryan ó the last member of the third generation of Burnsvilleís Irish settlers.
Rosella was 90.
ìShe was part of that generation that took Burnsville from pure rural community to a city,î said Mary Ajax, one of three daughters born to James and Rosella Ryan.
Rosellaís grandparents came to Burnsville from Ireland in the 1850s. She was the youngest of six children born to Walter and Rose Kennelly and the last surviving sibling.
She was born on the family farm where Mary, Mother of the Church now stands. She married James Ryan Nov. 20, 1941.
The Ryans lived on 40 acres north of Highway 13, between what is now the Towne and Country Square Shopping Center and the former Pat Connelly farmstead, which has also been developed.
The Ryans didnít actively farm the property but kept horses, peacocks, dogs and cats.
ìOne of the many things we enjoyed together as a family was growing and selling pumpkins,î Ajax said in her motherís eulogy May 13 at Mary, Mother. ìEach fall all of the relatives would gather on the first Saturday in October to pick the pumpkins, and even busloads of school kids would come for field trips to the pumpkin patch.î
When roads came through in 1969, the Ryans were forced to sell their property to pay the assessments. They moved to a house in Burnsvilleís North River Hills, one of the developing cityís fledgling neighborhoods.
ìThey made the best of it,î said Ajax, who now lives in her parentsí house. ìThey made wherever they were their home.î
James died in 1982. Rosella remained in North River Hills until about 10 years ago. She lived in an Eagan assisted-living facility at the time of her death.
ìThose original Irish settlers built this community,î Ajax said in an interview. ìThey laid the foundation. I think Burnsville has wonderful civic pride ... and they started that. They started the school system in Burnsville. They got the post office in Burnsville. They led the fight to keep Bloomington from annexing the Black Dog Plant.î
Rosella was proud of her Irish heritage, proud of her deep Burnsville roots and proud to be a founding member of Mary, Mother, the site of her birthplace, Ajax said. She became even more active in the church after her husbandís death.
ìThey really created community,î Ajax said of her forebearers. ìMany of the things we take for granted today as part of the institutions of this community ó from a school system to a post office to a congregation like Mary, Mother ó they did it.î
Survivors include her daughters Pat, Kathy and Mary; and grandchildren Bob, Becky, John, Steve, Andy and Scott.
Mass of Christian Burial was May 13, with the Rev. James C. Zappa officiating. Interment was at St. John the Baptist Cemetery in Burnsville. Pallbearers were Bob Yost, Becky Yost, John Moody, Steve Moody, Andy Ajax and Scott Ajax.
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