Constance "Connie" Jean Ryan

Constance (Connie) Jean Ryan was born a few minutes before her twin sister Millicent (Millie), to Elrie and Josie Bonner of Birtle, on July 25th, 1931. She grew up on their farm northeast of Birtle, along with her siblings Bernice (Graham), Peggy (Dearle) and Bob (Bonner). In spite of the Dirty Thirties and hard times, they had a loving and happy home. Connie and her sisters became talented cooks, seamstresses and gardeners, and Connie especially loved housekeeping. She also developed a love of poetry, the cinema and literature, reading everything she could get her hands on.

After high school, Connie and Millie went to Normal School in Winnipeg to become teachers. Connie only taught for two years before meeting and marrying Elmer Ryan of Foxwarren. Both the Bonners and Ryans had come from Iowa in the US, so the two families shared common interests. Elmer built Connie a beautiful farm home before their wedding, which she decorated and tended lovingly all her life. They also began raising their family there: Meredith (Lavoie), Shelley, Vicky Lynn, who was born with a hole in her heart and passed away to their great sorrow at the age of 9 months, and Rebecca (McCarthy). In 1960 the family moved out to Alberta where Elmer worked as a trucker with ATCO Industries. Their fifth daughter, Maureen (Loewen), was born in Calgary.

In 1965, the family moved back to the farm, expanded their operation, and settled once more into life in Foxwarren, where Connie was for a time a member of the Eastern Star, and kept busy with a big garden, hospitality, sewing, the girls’ school activities, 4-H and music lessons. In the 70s’ Connie and her family began going through a spiritual awakening and committed their lives following the Lord Jesus Christ as His disciples. Connie and Elmer began attending the Russell Alliance Church where Connie made some of her happiest memories, helping with Sunday School, the Missions Committee, and as a busy deaconess. She and Elmer opened their home for many years to neighborhood Bible Studies for couples and other farm wives. They were also able to travel after the family had left home, visiting the Caribbean and Hawaii and spending time in the British Isles and France, where Shelley worked for many years. In her later years, Connie said one of her favorite pastimes was “enjoying her memories.”

Connie passed away at the Sunnyside Manor Personal Care Home, Birtle at the age of 93, leaving behind Elmer, her husband of 71 years; her daughter Meredith & Gaston Lavoie, grandson Andrew Lavoie (Roslyn) and their five children: Kaidence, Danica, Charla, Raiden, Keelin, grandson Pascal Lavoie (Chance); her daughter Shelley Ryan; her daughter Rebecca & Barry MacCarthy, grandson Ryan, granddaughter Bethany, her daughter Maureen & Gord Loewen, grandson Tyler (Monica) and their daughter Leni, grandson Wade (Kalina) and two children Nash and Porter. Connie was predeceased by her parents, siblings, and daughter Vicky Lynn.