The Ryans received the 2010 Charles T. Rubey Loss Award.
The award was presented at Oakbrook Terrace by Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide, which is part of Catholic Charities.
In October 2007, the Ryans' 24-year old son Patrick committed suicide.
"It's heartwrenching," said Jim Ryan. "Counseling helps you put one foot in front of the other and realize that you have to live your journey and try to help your other kids and move on."
The family hopes that by sharing his story, they can reduce the stigma for those who have lost loved ones to suicide.
"I felt at first that maybe it would be embarrassing Pat's memory or something but then I realized that's absolutely not true," said Marie Ryan.
ABC 7's Kevin Roy lost his own mother to suicide. He was the emcee for the event.
