Mary Meline (Lundrigan) Ryall

Surrounded by family, Mary Meline Ryall (Lundrigan) passed into the presence of God on Friday, May 2, 2025, at the age of 92. Mom was born on October 20, 1932, in the small fishing village of Salmonier,

Burin, Newfoundland. She was the second child born to John and Annie Lundrigan, joining her much-loved brother Bernard. Her siblings Anna, Joseph, Jack, Bride, Marguerite, Joan, and Theresa followed, creating a family with strong connections that lasted a lifetime.

Mary was educated in a one-room schoolhouse, where she excelled in her subjects, especially English. After high school graduation, she worked in the family grocery store before leaving for St. John’s, where she worked as a nurse’s aide at the Tuberculosis Sanitorium. In 1952, she entered the St. John’s General School of Nursing, where she began a career she would love for her whole life. Being an R.N. was something she took great pride in. While in Nurses’ Training, she met her future husband, Jim Ryall. They married in 1955 and, shortly after, moved to Camp Chilliwack. While living in a small cabin on Vedder Road, their first child was born. Less than a year later, Jim and Mary were posted to Germany, where two more daughters arrived. After returning to Chilliwack, two more daughters and two sons were born, completing the family circle.

Mom’s love for nursing was apparent even while busy raising a family. We remember many times when we lived in PMQ’s when there would be a knock on the door because one of the neighbours wasn’t feeling well and “could Mrs. Ryall please come over and take a look?” She never once said no. Over the years, Mom’s nursing involved both paid and unpaid work. She worked part-time at Coqualeetza and then at Chilliwack General Hospital. She also volunteered with the Girl Guides of Canada, teaching first aid. Her last nursing years were spent at Bradley Centre, where both patients and families appreciated her care.

Mom had always enjoyed sewing for her family, but after retirement, she took up some new hobbies as well. Golf, where she seemed to allow herself endless “mulligans” became a part of her life with Dad at the Black Mountain Ranch. She learned to ski and loved it! Yearly trips to Hawaii with Dad were something she looked forward to. Over the years she took many trips all over Canada to visit her children in Alberta and Ontario, and her family in Newfoundland.

In 2000, she lost her beloved Jim, and again, life changed. She spent a year in Newfoundland, where she experienced a real winter again. She then moved to Comox, B.C., where she made many friends and lived close to her daughter, Judy. She then came back to Chilliwack, where she attended daily mass, had coffee every morning with her friends, attended every Catholic Women’s League event, and continued to be a vital part of family life. And the travel bug never left her. Sometimes she was on a tour with her church community; other times she traveled with one of her children or grandchildren. No matter what, it was always an adventure!

As a family, we are filled with both sadness at her passing bur also with gratitude for her life. Mom was a proud Newfoundlander, a woman of great faith, a skilled nurse, a good and loyal friend, a woman of great integrity, and a loving wife, Mom, Grandma, and Nan.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Jim, her infant son, Jim, her great-grandson, Thomas Kuester, and her parents John and Annie Lundrigan, her siblings Bern (Patricia) Lundrigan, Anna (Mike) Spencer, Jack (Kay) Lundrigan, Marguerite Lundrigan, Bride (Joe) Green, Joan (Garnet) Rowe, and Theresa (Bill) Mitchell.

Left to mourn are her children,Cindy (Ron)Kuester,Moreen (Wayne) Barnard,Mary Lou(Randy) Stewart, Judy (Dale) Fetzner, Jackie (Dennis) Turman, and Gord Ryall. Her grandchildren Jodi (Matthew) Sorensen, Jaime (Matt) King, Jesse (Julia) Kuester, Ryan Kuester, Kyle Kuester, Cheryl (Niel) Van Zyl, Stuart (Jenni) Barnard, Stephen Barnard (Jamiee), Lindsay Stewart (Clay), Maranda (Marco) Macchione, Duaine (Marie-Josee) Fetzner, Matthew (Kenzie) Fetzner, Cole Fetzner (Briar), Alex Fetzner, Lexi Fetzner, Christy (Luiz) Dos Santos, Jillian (Scott) Charlebois , Danielle Turman (Gerald), Cory (Tiana) Turman, and Sam Ryall remember her with great love. She was a beloved Nan to Aidan, Mary, Elijah, Ben, Ophelia, Adam, Anna (Dan), Caleb, Philip, Pia, Gemma, Rose, David, Joseph, Peter, Isaac, Jonah, Daniel, Odin, Kayden, Kinley, Elizabeth, Louie, Colton, Thomas, Lukas, Noah, Bethany, Kai, Anabelle, Juliet, Natalia, Fox, Maple, Liam, Braelynn, Maddie, Paisley, and Everly.

The family would like to thank the entire staff at Bradley Centre, where Mom spent the last three and a half years. Their care, compassion, and obvious love for her was apparent; we are beyond grateful to each one of you.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to either St. John Brebeuf Regional High School, Abbotsford, or St. Mary’s Elementary School, Chilliwack.