Obituary of Mary Sarah Ryan
Mary Sarah Antoinette Ryan, 58, Brockville, Ontario – It is with great sadness and heavy hearts we announce the sudden and unexpected passing at home of our daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, teacher, and friend on February 20, 2022. She was born February 18, 1964, in Kirkland Lake, Ontario to Alphonsus Liguori Ryan (deceased) and Mary Esther Patricia Ryan (nee Hickey). She loved living in Val Caron, Ontario which still held a special place in her heart. She moved to Mabou, Nova Scotia with her parents and brother and sister where she grew up. She got involved with community events, and church choir, singing soprano. She continued her involvement in choirs while attending Saint John Bosco Roman Catholic Church, Brockville, Ontario. She loved to drive often taking day trips with any one of her many friends. She loved good neighbourhood scavenger hunts, yard sales, auctions, and antique car shows. She often gifted treasures she found to others. She loved her yearly trip down east to spend time with her mother visiting many friends and relatives while there. She loved having her after Christmas January get together cooking up a storm of various dishes to be enjoyed by all who attended. She never failed to have that wine evening affair either. She got the teaching bug early always saying she would be one when she grew up.
She was educated at Mabou Consolidated School, Mabou, Nova Scotia. She went on to St. F.X. University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1985. She worked in Port Hawkesbury and will be remembered serving coffee and donuts. She decided to go to the University of Maine, Presque Isle, USA to study teaching and received her Bachelor of Liberal Studies in 1999. She taught in the Inverness District School Board substitute teaching before deciding to take a high school teaching position in northern British Columbia. She moved to Brockville, Ontario in 2001 to take a teaching position with the North Dundas District High School in Chesterville. She completed her Intermediate and Senior Divisions teaching qualifications in English and then in 2007 completed her Senior Division teaching qualifications in Individual and Society. In 2011 she moved to the Brockville Collegiate Institute where she taught English, Anthropology/Psychology/Sociology, and Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Metis and Inuit Voices. Mary provided support to many new to Canada and International students through her teaching of English as a Second Language. She was involved in iLeads (Indigenous Student Leadership Program) which provided leadership opportunities for Indigenous students. She had a very caring heart and was always present in the school halls helping students and greeting them to ensure that their day got off to a great start. Mary was an advocate for students and made sure that they had a voice. She championed charities and raised awareness for individuals with disabilities. Mary worked tirelessly on a multi school musical, ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ supporting students and working backstage. She also supported the school musical ‘Godspell’. Mary had a beautiful singing voice which in the past she donated her time to a choir and had just recently created a singing clip with her class at Christmas to raise awareness for CHEO. She was an integral part of her school’s annual Hall of Excellence and was the lead in organizing the Faculty Awards which kept her in contact with former teachers and students. Mary not only contributed to but put forth a huge energy in wellness activities and spirit days always boosting the staff and student morale. Mary held her students to a high standard and students always rose to the occasion and kept her in high regard.
She was predeceased by her father Alphonsus Liguori Ryan, brother Michael Ryan, grandparents Alphonsus William and Sarah Ellen (Sadie) Ryan and William and Antoinette Hickey, uncles Bernard Ryan, Jerome Ryan, Jim Hickey, Willie Hickey, Art Surette, and Harvey Bourgeois and aunt Noreen Ryan. She is survived by her mother Mary Esther Patricia Ryan, Mabou, Nova Scotia, brother Patrick Ryan (Charlene Serroul), Fort McMurray, Alberta, sister Ann Ryan, Fort McMurray, Alberta, nieces Brittany and Chelsea Ryan, both of Halifax, Nova Scotia, special friend Tony Guerra, Ottawa, Ontario, many aunts and uncles, cousins, and friends. We draw strength from our network of family and friends across Canada and the U.S at this difficult time.
Services under the direction of the Barclay Funeral Home. Cremation has taken place. A memorial visitation will be held at Barclay Funeral Home, 137 Pearl Street East, Brockville, Ontario, Friday, March 4, 2022 from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm. From there her family will be bringing Mary home to Nova Scotia. A second visitation will be held at St. Mary’s Church, Mabou, Nova Scotia, Monday, March 7, 2022 from 10 am to 10:45 am with Funeral to follow at 11 am. Burial to follow at a later date, Memorial donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Tributes, words of comfort and memories of Mary may be shared with the family at www.barclayfuneralhome.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Mary
Sarah
Ryan 1964 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Brockville, Province: Ontario