OBITUARY: Patricia Ryan, Bracebridge Public School teacher
OBITUARY: RYAN, Patricia Ann Ryan, June 13, 1939 ~ June 26, 2018
PATRICIA ANN RYAN died suddenly on Tuesday, June 26th, 2018, in her 80th year.
She is survived by cousins Lois Cooper, Melissa Cooper and Alex Hogg.
She was predeceased by her parents, Dr. Lawrence (Laurie or Paddy) Ryan (1965) and Pearl Ryan (nee Cooper, 1974), as well as her cousins, Phil Kennedy, Peter Cooper and her many aunts and uncles.
Patricia was born in Bracebridge, Ontario, on June 13, 1939.
She was baptized and confirmed by the Monsignor Michael O’Leary and went on to become the president of the Catholic Women’s League at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Bracebridge.
She enjoyed her 79th birthday party with her family at Muskoka Shores retirement home in Gravenhurst just two weeks before her death from a heart attack.
Patricia attended Bracebridge Public School, Bracebridge High School and the Normal School in North Bay.
She went on to teach at Bracebridge Public School, both primary grades and physical education.
A very energetic person, she also worked at the Muskoka Laundry while school was on summer break.
Patricia grew up at 147 Manitoba St., in Bracebridge (now undergoing renovation), and at her parents’ cottage on the Muskoka River.
Her childhood took place at a time we look back on with nostalgia.
Her Aunt Elizabeth Cooper and her son Peter would embark on the Mildred cruise boat at the docks below Bracebridge Falls, and it would take them down the river to the Ryan family cottage.
Upon the Mildred’s return from deliveries around the big Muskoka Lakes it would stop and pick up the Coopers, returning them to Bracebridge.
Dr. Ryan, a dentist, was also a town councillor for many years and mayor of Bracebridge from 1950-53.
He doted on his daughter. Patricia had free reign of the Manitoba main street, and merchants simply kept an account of her purchases, which was presented monthly to Dr. Ryan.
Being an avid sports person (see his hockey photos at the arena), Dr. Ryan encouraged Patricia to take up badmnton. A wall of trophies later, her knees caused her to retire from the sport.
She continued with her love of boating and enjoyed showing friends and family around the Muskoka Lakes. She particularly liked pointing out Gordon Sinclair’s cottage. She and her parents had a close relationship with Gordon (as he signed his post cards to ‘Doc from Europe.’).
She also took up horseback riding. Earlier (1960) she convinced her recently-widowed Uncle Ed Cooper to start up Rocky Ridge Ranch, at Stoneleigh, in Macaulay. It was a success and Ed Cooper enjoyed running it until 1975.
Patricia bought her own horse and a snowmobile.
Although she loved her horse it all came to a sad end when it kicked Patricia in the head in 1971. After an eight-hour surgery at St. Mike’s in Toronto, she made a full recovery.
At some point she took up racing snowmobiles for, Barry Webb, and loved the thrill of the race — and the trophies.
Patricia was a many talented person, including a seamstress, knitter and car mechanic. She loved listening to Mario Lanza, watching Victor Borges and her beloved sports on TV.
Her birthdays, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving and other family celebrations were enjoyed with the Coopers and the Kennedys.
Cremation has taken place. A funeral Mass will take place on Wednesday, July 11, at 11 a.m., at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Bracebridge, Ontario.
A private family burial will take place at St. Joseph’s R.C. cemetery.
As your expressions of sympathy, and in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph’s Catholic Women’s League; or the O.S.P.C.A. Muskoka Branch.
- Submitted by Lois J. Cooper, cousin
