Her death at her Nowra home on October 5, brings to an end a significant page in Shoalhaven history.

Along with her late husband Dr Bill, who passed away less than a year ago (November 21, 2017) aged 87, they provided devoted medical service to the area for more than 60 years.

Dr Pat was farewelled at a large service at St Michael’s Catholic Church, Nowra on Friday, October 12.

News of her passing sparked a number of heartfelt messages from around the region including -

“There wasn't another woman like her; a truly wonderful physician; an amazing role model with so many fine qualities and achievements. One of Nowra's stalwarts. A great loss, a grand lady, a wonderful friend. Charitable, she accepted all and never judged; good at anything she turned her mind to; a straight shooter – she spoke her mind.”

But through it all “family remained number one”.

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Son Mark said Dr Pat taught her children “many valuable lessons for life - including hate was not a word in our vocabulary."

The following was a eulogy presented Mark at the service.

Patricia Anne Ryan nee Standish was born in Lismore Base Hospital prematurely on December 18, 1931.

She was the eldest daughter of Roslyn Anne and Dr William Alexander, or Bill, Standish, of Casino.

Strangely enough, she was actually delivered by her future husband’s uncle - Redmond Ryan.

Despite her prematurity and tiny size, she was quite advanced walking early and talking from an early age – traits that continued throughout her life.

She was educated at the Convent of Mercy Casino transferring to the Convent of the Sacred Heart Rose Bay at the age of 13 as a boarder.

She excelled, collecting prizes in all four years and leaving as a Member of the Sodality of Mary and Blue-Ribbon Prefect (a feat she boasted was later mirrored by her attending grandchildren).

Supported by her parents, she enrolled in medicine at The University of Sydney in 1949 taking up residence at Sancta Sophia College.

Her University start was slow having no background in physics or chemistry, but she overcame that through tutoring kindly offered by the boys at St Johns.

She had been a student at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and resident at Balmain Hospital.

To quote her year book: Her friends have been privileged to enjoy her vivacious company and sparkling loquacity.

Always a keen student and a steady worker, much of her recreation time was devoted to social work among her friends in need, who poured their troubles into her willing ear.

You could repeat these words now describing her life.

Mum was introduced to our father Bill Ryan through a friend from Lismore Mick Best who later was their best man.

After a lightning courtship of only eight years they married in 1957 and moved to Nowra on April 1.

Mum was the first full-time female GP in the area.

They joined our grandfather Dr Frank Ryan at 33 Berry Street where they later established the Standish Medical Centre and practised for 60 years.

Mum served with Dad at the local hospital full-time until 2005.

In the early days during surgery they would take it in turns - one operating and the other assisting giving the anaesthetic.

Dr Pat worked hard as a doctor and was renowned for her prowess particularly with obstetrics.

Her famous catchphrase was "You can, and you will" and they all did.

Trust me, you “never argue with my mother”.

She and Dr Bill delivered around 200 babies per year for almost 30 years – Mum remained a mother to them all!

She was particularly loved and respected by the local Indigenous population whom she cared for in her own special way.

A very skilled doctor – another doctor told me his children said she gave the best needles to which we, her children, can attest.

As her year book intimated: Mum had one of those faces people would talk to. People she met, even socially, would pour out their heart and problems to her - it never phased her, and she would quietly offer her advice and counsel.

When a young asthmatic newlywed tragically died on an international flight, of the five doctors present, Mum was the one who counselled and helped the distraught, young husband for a number of hours till the plane landed.

But she was never a pushover. She fought hard for the residents and health of the Shoalhaven and had the distinction of being sworn at during a Liberal Party fundraiser by the serving NSW Health Minister. He was upset following his censure in Parliament due to the local doctors who were fighting for equitable funding for the local hospital.

In the 70s she helped lead a campaign to keep fluoride in the local water to prevent dental disease.

Dr Pat worked medically full-time covering Dad while he was Shire President; was a Government Medical Officer in her own right and on the World Police Medical Officers Association Council.

In 2000 Mum she was awarded an OAM for Services to Medicine and the Community especially the indigenous population.

Not surprisingly Dad was at her side receiving his given they spent their whole working lives together.

Dr Pat finally retired in 2016 but don’t ever mention the “R” word.

She had a good sense of humour and loved James Bond that much, that Dad gave her special number plates - EMN 007 - she very proudly often remarked that she was the only doctor in Nowra “Licensed to Kill”.

She was busy outside of medicine - she took up golf on four occasions and had four children (I’m not sure of the connection) – maternity leave was only ever two weeks!

She helped establish the Shoalhaven Community Preschool kindergarten near the hospital, was on the first P&F committee at St Michael’s school where her children were all educated.

She was a member of the first St Michael’s Parish Council and spent Saturdays ferrying the children and car loads of others to sporting fixtures across the area.

He said the family received many memorable messages on the news of their mother’s death.

“There wasn't another woman like her; a truly wonderful physician; an amazing role model with so many fine qualities and achievements. One of Nowra's stalwarts. A great loss, a grand lady, a wonderful friend. Charitable, she accepted all and never judged; good at anything she turned her mind to; a straight shooter – she spoke her mind.”

Our mother taught us, her children, many valuable lessons for life -  hate was not a word in our vocabulary - take holidays at regular intervals – she taught us to dance and dress to kill! (she loved red), the best place to camp is Sheraton on the Park. Never give up on anything or anyone but the most important lesson of all "family is number one" and she embodied that throughout her life raising us and welcoming our friends and spouses, grandchildren and subsequent great grandchildren.

But our mother was not a saint: She was the worst patient – she would ask me and other members of the medical fraternity for an opinion, listen carefully and then do what she wanted to do.

She ate her steak well done, much to my father’s horror – true love that he actually cooked it that way.

For those who know how much my mother loved my father - it’s almost a surprise it has taken so long….. the daughter of a friend said it all “Dr Pat died of a broken heart”

In my father’s eulogy I referred to our mother as his Lois Lane… today I think she is more Wonder Woman – a special, caring woman who lived her life for others

Dr Pat was the wife and best friend of Bill (deceased) for over 60 years, loved and admired mother of Denise (Jones), Frank, Marianne (Desmond) and Mark and and mother-in-law to Martin, Mandy and Katja.

She was the adored Mama of Nick and Kate, Kate, Liz and Abbie Jones, Will, Sasha, Jaime and Elise Ryan, Alex, Tim and Scott Desmond, Connor, Callum, Hannah and Adam Ryan, Josie and Henrik Schaefer and great Mama to Tess and Will Jones.

Also the beloved sister of Dinks Moran and Margaret Standish.