She graduated in 1907 from the Lillian Massey School of Household Science in Toronto, and trained as a dietitian at New York City Hospital.

[4] After World War I, she spent four years as general organizer of dietitians for the Military Hospitals Commission.

[2] The success of her efforts ensured that dietitians would be appointed to forty military hospital in Canada.

[2] After her work with the military hospitals, Ryley became dietitian at the Toronto YWCA.

[7] She had charge of the kitchen at Eaton's Georgian Room, a Toronto restaurant, when it opened in 1924.