Diane Ryan

Diane Carol (Allen) Ryan

Diane Carol Ryan passed away on February 28, 2023, in the Hornepayne Hospital with her family by her side. She was predeceased by her husband Lorne, her great granddaughter, Lydia Paul and her parents, Garnet, Muriel and Doug Allen

Diane always loved visiting. She visited friends locally and often went to stay for a week or two at various Aunts and Uncles. She liked going to summer camp and was often awarded the best camper award. She worked hard, first babysitting her younger siblings, and then babysitting, sometimes for the whole weekend around the community. When she was 15, she started working at a resort on Lake Nipissing, first as a babysitter and then as a waitress and cabin cleaner.

In 1960, Diane went to Barrie to enter Nurses training at the Royal Victoria Hospital. She was a born nurse with her warm, loving and caring personality. On her visits home, she told us about various things she had learned, and her younger weak stomach siblings had to leave the table. She met many wonderful student nurses and maintained great friendships. They had a reunion on every five-year anniversary and she kept in regular contact with them. When she graduated in 1963, Diane was the class Valedictorian, giving a warm and memorable speech.

Diane applied for a job in Hornepayne when she received her RN designation. Many of our relatives had worked there and Diane wanted to work in a small-town hospital where she could work in many areas and decide what she liked best, before she settled down to work at a large one. In January 1964, she travelled to Hornepayne. She lived in nurses’ quarters in the hospital. An early letter home had us all wondering about her sanity. She wrote—It is 2 am, -40 degrees and I am walking home. The sky is clear and full of stars. I feel like I am the only person in the world. It is wonderful!

On one of her first shifts, she met Lorne Ryan. He was visiting his brother-in-law who was very ill. They chatted and chatted and started going to the Legion together and hanging out with friends.

Diane loved life in Hornepayne, the hospital, the wonderful people she met and most importantly, Lorne. At the end of 6 months, instead of coming back south. She stayed. In March 1965, Diane and Lorne got married in Balsam Creek. She kept working at the hospital as a Nurse, and the Director of Nursing and then the CEO of the hospital. In fact, she was the hospital CEO when the new hospital was built.

Diane and Lorne never left Hornepayne. They had two children, Marni (Ernie Paul) and Patrick (Coretta Tremblay). They have eight grandchildren, Cory (Jenn) Taylor, Megan Pugsley, William, Walker and Mallory Paul (Ken Agich) Samantha (Chad) Verrino, Kale and Nate Ryan. They also have seven Great Grandchildren Avery and Jessie Taylor, Lydia, in heaven, Finley and Elysia Paul, and Leo and Piper Verrino.

Diane loved to host this crowd always but especially enjoyed hosting them for Christmas morning brunch.

Diane will always be missed by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, her siblings Kurt (Marg), Dale (Dan) Odorizzi, Paul, Kim (Cathy), Nancy, her Ryan, Allen, and Johnston relatives, the Powder Puff Girls, her Class of ‘63 and especially by her wonderful friend Barb Drury.

Diane’s funeral will be held on Monday, March 6 at 11:00 am at the Grace United Church in Hornepayne.

In lieu of flowers, Diane has requested donations to the Hornepayne Community Hospital or the Hornepayne Legion, Branch 194.

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