Obituary of Mary (Oliver) Ryan, B.A., B.Ed., M.Ed.

It is with sadness, yet profound gratitude for a life well lived, that the family announces the passing of Mary Elizabeth (Oliver) Ryan on March 29, at the age of 91. Mary’s enduring hope for those still on life’s journey was this: to move beyond unresolved challenges and, with humility, trust that in time we come to thank God for those who lift us above life’s clouds and restore our sunshine.

Mary was born in Prince of Wales, New Brunswick, to James and Elizabeth (McCarthy), and grew up with her siblings Ronald, Vernon, Bill, and Lorna in a faith-filled family, later settling in the West Side of Saint John. Missing her deeply are her beloved husband, Jim, with whom she shared 58 years of marriage; her son, Jamie; her beloved grandchildren, Jack and Miriam; Jenny and her son, Jylan; her brothers, Ron Oliver and Bill Oliver (Rolande); and many nieces and nephews across the Oliver and Ryan families.

Mary was predeceased by her parents; her sisters, Lorna Daigle (Ron Daigle) and Veronica Ann; her brothers, Vernon (Evelyn) and Lawrence; and her sister-in-law, Marina Oliver (wife of Ron Oliver). At the age of eighteen, Mary answered a clear calling that led her to enter the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity in Saint John, New Brunswick, embracing a life vowed to poverty, chastity, and obedience. In a world advancing in technology but often lacking in compassion, she believed in building longer tables rather than higher walls. Known for twelve years as Sister Janice, it was during this time that her teaching career began and the foundations for a life of faith, service, and education were laid.

Mary found great joy in teaching for more than 33 years, instilling in children the belief that prejudice is a disease and that they carry the antidote. She taught that when one door closes, it is simply an invitation to re-route, to move on to the next door, and to keep moving forward. These convictions led to her pioneering work throughout the 1970s and 1980s at the local, provincial, and national levels in multicultural education, a formative period she later chronicled in a memoir published during the pandemic years. Her commitment to promoting multiculturalism extended beyond the classroom through her role as a founding member of the Fredericton Multicultural Association and the Heritage Festivals. In recognition of her contributions, Mary was honoured at Rideau Hall by Governor General Jules Léger in 1978 and received the Government of Canada National Citizenship Award in 1993.

In later years, as her health began to fail, Mary’s sense of mission never changed. She devoted her energy to developing resolutions and advancing numerous causes through the Catholic Women’s League of Canada, serving in leadership roles at the local, provincial, and national levels. She was also honoured with the Bellelle Guerin Award, named for the foundress and first national president of the League, whose life Mary later chronicled in a biography. Mary’s passion for community-building also led her to become a charter member of many organizations, too numerous to name, each reflecting her enduring commitment to faith in action. She was very active in the Women’s Interchurch Council and organized many ecumenical events. Over the years, Mary authored several books and adult religious education courses and, remarkably, was actively editing a collaborative work right up until her passing. She was deeply humbled to receive the Marilyn Trenholme Counsell Literacy Award in 2022.

In 2022, Mary’s life was both challenged and enriched when she was hospitalized for a period and later moved to Thomas Hall, a Shannex long-term care facility. While her health declined, her mind remained strong, and she devoted herself to brightening the lives of fellow residents and advocating for their voices to be heard. Working with allies, her efforts led to Shannex’s support of a book that captured life from a resident’s perspective. Mary and our family are deeply grateful to the many staff, nurses, and members of management who provided care, kindness, and support throughout this chapter of her life and up to her final days.

As the world grew more complex and serious, Mary often reflected that too often we seek comfort in surface change, rather than the deeper transformation of heart and action. She lived her life choosing the latter.

Visitation will be held at McAdam's Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, from 5 pm – 7:30 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Dunstan's Catholic Church on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 2 pm with Fr. Suresh Savariraj as celebrant. For those unable to attend a livestream will be available at this link, https://vimeo.com/event/5838458/2bbb61c957?fl=so&fe=fs . Interment will be held at the Hermitage Catholic Cemetery at a later date.

For those who wish, donations in Mary's memory may be made to the Fredericton Multicultural Association, St. Dunstan's Catholic Church Building Fund or the John Wood Foundation.