Angela Josephine (Cox) Rynne, 82, beloved wife of Christopher P. Rynne of Madison, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on Oct. 1. Born in Antfield, Annaduff, Co. Leitrim, Ireland, on July 5, 1935, she was the daughter of the late James and Kathleen Duignan Cox.
Besides her loving husband Chris of 55 years, she is survived by her three daughters, Maureen Rynne, Patricia Rynne, and Christine Beirne (Brian) of Madison; her cherished grandchildren Roisin and Brian Beirne; nine siblings, Brendan (Betsy) of Florida, John (Bridie), Monica Canna (Milo), T.P. (Eileen), Leo (Chrissy), Anna Egan (Mattie), Francis (Mary), Eugene (Olive), and Imelda Flynn (Jack) of Ireland; and sisters-in-law Mary Cox and Kathleen Saunders. Angela was predeceased by her brothers James and Hugh Cox, and brother-in-law Frederick Saunders.
Angela was known as “Josie” growing up and as “Joan” when she moved to the United States. The oldest of twelve, she left home at age thirteen to finish her education at a boarding school in Co. Westmeath. Following her schooling, she worked in Wicklow and Dublin, Ireland, and Manchester, England, before emmigrating to the US in 1960 to her late aunt Elizabeth Brooks in West Haven. She married Chris in 1962 and they lived and raised their family in Hamden for 38 years before moving to Madison in 2000. Angela retired from Yale University after 37 years as a desk attendant in Ezra Stiles College. She spent her retirement years attending the Madison Senior Center programs and enjoying quality time with her family, including dozens of nieces and nephews whom she adored. She was a longtime member of the Irish American Community Center in East Haven, where she loved attending ceili dances with her family and friends. Always creative, she discovered a passion for quilting and she made many beautiful quilts for family and friends through the years. A devout Catholic, Angela was a parishioner and a CCD teacher at Blessed Sacrament Church in Hamden and St. Margaret Church in Madison. Besides visiting Knock in Ireland, she traveled to Lourdes, France, and Vatican City for her faith.
Her funeral procession left the North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Ave., Nov. 5. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated in St. Therese Church. Interment followed in All Saints Cemetery. Friends and family called Oct. 4. Memorial contributions may be made to the Closer to Free Fund, PO Box 1849, New Haven, CT 06508, which jointly supports Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven and Yale Cancer Center. To share memories or send condolences to the family, please visit www.northhavenfuneral.com.
