Margaret Ann Ryan

Marg was a graduate of the Nova Scotia Teachers' College, Mount St. Vincent University. She taught in Halifax ,Calgary ,Montreal, Toronto.

Marg is survived by husband, Jim Ryan; sister, Pat Youden; brother, Charles Jackman; sisters-in-law, Beth Ryan; Caroline Ryan ;Joanne Jackman; brothers-in-law, Tom Youden, Tom Ryan, and Doug Ryan; nephews, Tom, Liam ,Calum, James, David, Tim , and Michael Ryan, Keith Youden, Chad Jackman; niece, Karen Youden; and cousins, Ryan, Doucet, and Youden.

Margaret and Jim married in Montreal in 1971, moved to Toronto in 1992 and retired to Inverness in 1999. Marg was active in the community as Secretary of the IDA when Cabot Links came to Inverness; originator of the Inverness Crab fest, co-founder of the Inverness Garden Club; Volunteer with the Hospital Palliative Unit; and instrumental in establishing the Cabot Links’ Monday golf program.

Although Marg was not a native Invernesser, she quickly adjusted to her new home, made many friends over the years, and thoroughly enjoyed every day in her new surroundings.

Spending 25 summers at Beach Village prepared Marg for her residence in Inverness

In 1999 and allowed Marg to endear herself to the Ryan family and the many friends she made.

In our early retirement days in Inverness, Marg and her cohorts would organize winter parties which became known as the “Patsy Cline Days”. The song of the day was “Crazy ” and Marg did a mean rendition.Those days, and parties, will be remembered by participants for a long time. A few of you are laughing at this very moment as you recall Patsy and friends.

As members of the The Garden Club, President Betty Anne Cameron and Marg came up with a fundraising plan that had a big impact on the community - “The Mistletoe Gala”. For a good number of years the Garden Club members would busy themselves in November getting the Art Centre ready for a dinner and dance for 100 guests. It turned out to be a great fundraising success and also gave the ladies an opportunity to model their latest finery and gave the men the opportunity to show their culinary talents.The Garden Club continues to beautify the “town” each year with its lavish bouquets on our Main Street.

Marg always looked forward to winter months in Lakeland Florida where a large contingent of friends from Inverness County, greater Nova Scotia, Ontario and the northern USA congregated to escape the winter doldrums.

These many friends enjoyed golfing, restaurants, travel, snowbird extravaganzas, concerts, and the odd party to ease the burden of retirement. A highlight of each year was Marg’s Academy Awards Party when the gals would dress as movie stars and arrive in front of 275 Country Club Road in rented limousines. Wine was poured and trophies were awarded. For many of us, those were “The Glory Days”.

Marg has also left behind many friends in Montreal and Toronto. She bonded with her counterparts and made an impact on her students. At a reunion of students and teachers at Verdun Catholic High, one of her male students said to her, “You were the best teacher I ever had, but I wouldn’t want to have you for another year”. That was indeed, a great compliment.The student, and Shakespeare, would probably agree.

Marg fought cancer for 25 years. In her fight against cancer, Marg began a running, then walking regimen of two hours daily. Her diagnosis of a two to five year survival term by her Toronto doctor in 1998 extended to 2023. She held cancer at bay for 25 years. Cancer patients can take solace from Margaret’s determination to live on.

Marg was a special lady.

Adieu, Margaret . You will be missed.

Margaret’s family would like to thank the Palliative Care unit and the staff of the Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital for the very kindly and professional manner in which they cared for Margaret.

A Celebration of the Life of

Margaret will be held in late September or early October.