RYAN, Eva
Marie Seraphine “Eva” (Landreville) Ryan was born March 25, 1934 in St. Lupicin, Manitoba. Her francophone family moved to Vancouver Island in 1943, settling in Alberni and Nanaimo. She graduated from St. Anne’s convent, then joined the Air Force and was stationed in Lac St. Denis, Quebec where she met her first husband, Patrick and gave birth to the pride of her life, her daughter, Erin Kellie Ryan. In 1960, they moved back to Nanaimo where Eva chose to establish her career, build friendships and spend the rest of her life close to her two sisters.
Eva was pre-deceased by her parents, Clement & Auxilie Landreville; and her brothers, Norbert, Roger, and Romeo Landreville. She is survived by her two beloved sisters, Rita Hillier and Martha (Don) Sundquist; her daughter, Kellie Ryan (Terry Ritchey); many nieces, nephews, two step-grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Eva Ryan worked at the Bank of Montreal for her entire career, retiring as a Commercial Loans Officer. She saw the transition of an industry from manual systems, through the common usage of automated adding machines and ultimately, computers. During this period she was predeceased by her second husband, Michael Ryan. After her “retirement” Eva found a new passion and advocation in fibre arts. She was a fiber artist and master weaver who gifted many pieces of her work to friends, family and community. Eva was an active member of the Gabriola Island and Mid-Island Weaving guilds. Weaving was a passion and an outlet for her meticulous precision as well as her strong sense of community.
There will be a celebration of Eva’s life and her artwork in the Malaspina Room at the Coast Bastion Hotel on Friday, March 28th from 2-4 p.m. The family will be featuring her vibrant, creative scarfs, afghans, rugs, tapestries... They would enjoy having you share your memories as well as any artistic masterpieces that Eva shared with you. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.