Marion Ryland

Marion was born on April 4th, 1927, in Cadishead, Lancashire in the United Kingdom.  She survived diphtheria (a life-threatening case) at the age of four and went on to learn to swim in the ocean, hike in the Lake District, and excel at school.  At 14 she won a scholarship to Salford University but had to decline as her parents thought that she should instead begin to earn a living. She was a talented artist and worked for a textile design company for a while before attending a secretarial college, where she learned to type and use Pittman shorthand, skills which proved to be a godsend in finding work throughout her life.  She joined the military in 1944, serving in the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS)—coincidentally Queen Elizabeth’s service was also with the ATS!  She trained in Slough, then was sent for overseas service in Gibraltar, then Jerusalem.  There she met Capt. Victor Ryland.  They married in January 1948 (they were both 20 years old); Victor continued to be stationed on the Rhine in the post-war period and Marion demobilized home to England.  Job prospects in England were scarce after the war and they decided to emigrate to Canada.  Their daughter, Rebecca, was born in 1951 and Victoria in 1954.  They moved many times, as Victor’s employment with Bausch & Lomb required.  In Rochester, New York, Marion worked in the administrative office of the Eastman School of Music and, with great satisfaction, for Eastman, Wagner and Bittker, Attorneys at Law.  Back in Canada in 1973, she worked for the provincial government as the Administrative Assistant to three judges in Whitby, Ontario, until 1989.  Marion and Victor retired to Kingston, Ontario, where they lived for 18 years.  When Victor went into care, they chose Huntsville, to be close to family. Mum never missed a day visiting Dad at Muskoka Landing.  She loved the move to Huntsville where she became an active participant in activities arranged by Muskoka Seniors and her Anglican community at All Saint’s Church. She was an accomplished quilter and knitter.  How we will all miss those hand-made socks! She was a great lover of dogs, having had many faithful canine friends throughout her life.  She had visits with Rachel’s Raylan and Sheila’s Scarlett in some of her final hours, something which would have given her great comfort. She made many very good friends in Huntsville: Mary Spear, being one of those remarkable friends who saw her through Victor’s death and Marion’s subsequent illnesses.  After a stroke, when Marion herself needed full time care she moved into Muskoka Landing, where she received excellent care from many kind, loving and thoughtful staff.  The family is immensely grateful for their professional handling of Marion and all their residents during the pandemic and for navigating these last years with dedication and commitment to those vulnerable people in their care. Our thanks.

Marion passed on December 30th, 2022, after a brief respiratory illness. 

She is survived by her daughters, Rebecca Ryland (Rick Krogsrud) and Victoria Mathies (David) and grandchildren, Sheila Mathies, Rachel Mathies (Connor Kelly), Philip Mathies (Caroline Correia), Justine Hutchinson (Daniel Kwon) and Jared Krogsrud, and her great grandchildren, Isla, Simon and Owen Mathies.  Predeceased by her husband, Victor, and parents Albert and Maggie Appleton and brother, Arthur.

A memorial service will be held at All Saint’s Anglican church on Saturday, January 7th, 2023, at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Huntsville Hospital Foundation in Marion’s name are gratefully accepted.