Riley James Berryman

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Riley at age fourteen. Surrounded by his family on the afternoon of Thursday, November 29th 2012, Riley peacefully left us to join the angels above. Riley was a grade nine student at Hill Park Secondary School, where both of his parents previously attended. Riley was a graduate of Franklin Road Elementary School, where his great personality made him many friends – both students and teachers. Riley’s one great joy in life was video games. Hours per day were spent with his friends playing Xbox live. He had a knack for knowing the ins and outs of every game – and if there was something he didn’t know, he found out. Riley was a very strong, courageous boy, tackling every challenge that came his way. He was rarely found without a huge smile or a sly smirk on his face. Riley enjoyed motorcycle rides with his dad Mike, as well as trips to the Great Wolf Lodge with his family. He had a tendency to lovingly pick on his older brother Mike, and always asked his older sister Sarah, for advice. Together, the three Berryman children loved to taunt their parents. Riley and his mother, Shana, shared a bond like no other. They were truly inseparable. Thanks to the Make A Wish Foundation, Riley and his family enjoyed a wonderful trip to the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas last year, where time was spent swimming with dolphins, eating at fancy restaurants, and lounging poolside together. These are only some of the great memories Riley left us with. Riley was met with open arms from Grandpa Berryman when he arrived at the golden gates of heaven. They will be our guardian angels, watching down on us as the years pass. Riley leaves behind his mom and dad, Shana and Mike, his brother, Mike, and his sister, Sarah. Riley will also be missed by his grandmother, Carole Berryman, and his nana and papa, Art and Ronalda Shropshall. Aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and teachers will all dearly miss Riley, as he has touched many lives. Thanks to all of the nurses at McMaster Children’s Hospital on wards 3B, 3C, PICU, and especially to Dr. Issenman and Dr. Fitzgerald for all of their support over the years. Thank you Dr. Bailey for everything you did for Riley over the past week. And a special thank you to Rose Francis Claus, clinical nurse specialist of the pediatric gastrointestinal team. There will be no service for Riley, but a donation in his honour would be greatly appreciated by his family. If you’d like to make a donation, it can be made to McMaster Sick Kids or the Make A Wish Foundation.