Robert Ryan
1958-2022
BASS RIVER, NB – Robert Ryan 63, passed away peacefully on
April 6, 2022, surrounded by the love of his family, after a long
battle with cancer. He left behind the love of his life and wife of
almost 45 years, Brenda, his children, Chris and Karen, Neil
and Marley, and Tara and Marc; and his grandchildren, Kailyn, Ava,
Jaxson, Finn, Wells, Hailey, and Gatlin.
His long fight was no surprise to anyone who knew him, as he
was born with a competitive spirit and a very strong work ethic. His
passion for the outdoors began as a young teenager as he learned the
ins and outs of forestry from a close family friend. This love of the
woods carried through his 20s, where he would work using his draft
horses until he sold them in the 80s. He passed his love of horses to
his grandson Jaxson.
His competitiveness played out on the baseball diamonds and
hockey rinks of his youth. Even after retiring from sports in
adulthood, he would never pass up an opportunity to tell a story.
Among his favourites was when he took a slapshot off his leg but
played until the end of the period. When he came off the ice, he had
realized the shin pad was broken, along with his leg. His true passion
was on the ball field, though. In his later years, he loved to
reminisce with his old teammates and tell stories about the
championships, ‘1-hitters,’ and the time he hit 17
home runs in a weekend tournament. He loved watching and talking about
the Leafs and Blue Jays with Kailyn and was so proud to watch his two
grandsons, Finn and Wells, play hockey on his last trip to Ottawa last
fall. Despite being sick, he didn’t miss an ice time over
the two weeks. He loved his boys, but his granddaughters, Ava and
Hayley, really were the apple of his eye, rocking them any chance he
could get, along with his newest grandson
Gatlin.
He put everything he had into everything he did. He spent the
last 17 years working at Global Windows and Doors, where almost every
phone call to his children included a story about work. His job
provided him with an opportunity to accomplish something every day.
Despite telling his bosses ‘how it is’ every once
in a while, he always talked fondly about his long-time co-workers,
especially the owner, Scott.
He loved family, which is good because he sure had a lot to
love. He is survived by siblings, Willah, Olive and Walter, Gary and
Sheila, and Danny and Lynn, Vincent (Carolyn); pre-deceased by his
mother and father, Irma and Harold, siblings Lois and Freeman, George
and Shirley, Leonard, and Carolyn. He also felt extremely fortunate to
have another family he married into that was just as close as blood
(mainly because he had been hanging around their farm since he was
12). He also considered them mother, father, sister, and
brother.
He was predeceased by his mother and father-in-law, Leona and
Dickie and survived by Philip and Joan, Norman and Denise, Margie and
Percy, Phyllis and Bruce, Jennie and Gary, Judy and Terry, Hazel and
George, Mike and Marilyn, Ronnie and Lesa, Pauline and Rick, Rodney
and Cindy, and Pam and Kevin. Additionally, he was fortunate to have
so many nieces and nephews who all had a piece of his
heart.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the loving care of
Thompson’s Funeral Home. Visitation will be held at St.
Mark’s Presbyterian Church in Bass River on Sunday, April
10th from 1-4pm, and a funeral will take place
on Monday, April 11th, 2022 at 10:00
am.
The family would like to thank all the healthcare specialists
at the Dr. Leon-Richard Oncology Centre and Unit 4D who kept him
comfortable and showed so much compassion over the past 15
months.
Instead of donations, the family asks that you hug your loved
ones a little closer and spend time watching them do their favourite
pastime because that’s what Robert would do.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Robert Ryan 19582022..
Death notice for the town of: Richibucto, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick