RYAN, Michelle Marie Ryan

She was born on April 3, 1971 in North York, Ontario and died on November 21, 2025 in Kelowna, British Columbia at the age of 54, a week after falling into a coma from a series of strokes that stunned everyone who knew her. It felt unfair in the way life often is, sudden and absurd, leaving people trying to make sense of a world that had changed without asking permission.

She is survived by her parents, John and Norma Ryan; her sister, Cheryl Fisher, and her brother-in-law, Dan; her nieces, Kailey and Cianna; her nephew, Connor; her uncle, Jim Ryan; and her many cousins. Each of them could tell a different story about Michelle, though all of them would land on the same point in the end. She was warm, loving, compassionate and fiercely loyal of her family and friends. She was very determined and stubborn in the best and worst ways. And she was the person you called when something broke because she would figure it out, even if it meant inventing a solution nobody else would have considered, a regular ” Ms. MacGyver”.

She was predeceased by her dogs, Abby and Teagan, who had been her constant companions. The sort of dogs who made you think that people do not deserve animals quite as loyal as that.

Michelle loved being outdoors, whether she was camping, fishing, or simply disappearing into the quiet of the trees. She held three families close: Her own family; her school community; and, the circle of people who shared her time at her cabin at Bear Lake, which was, of course, her “happiest place”

Michelle had been a dedicated member of School District 23 since 1997 as a full time CEA working with many different children. This year marks her 29th year of service with the district. For the past few years, she worked at Kelowna Secondary School and prior to that, she spent 12 year’s at Glenrosa Middle School. She also worked at countless other schools in the district over her years of service. Michelle’s commitment and care left a huge impact on the lives of countless students and colleagues that she worked with. Her influence on the students she supported continues to echo in a way that cannot be neatly measured, it is boundless.

Michelle had a great love for her sports, especially hockey, ringette and baseball. In her younger years she played both male and female hockey and found a new passion in the game of ringette playing at the higher levels. Michelle also during her time of playing took up being a referee for both hockey and ringette. She also had a great passion for coaching ringette and truly was an amazing coach putting her heart and soul into every team she coached. Michelle made a great impact on so many players and parents on and off the ice.

Those who loved her carry her with them, not as a grand idea but as a steady presence. She remains with them in spirit, woven into the ordinary days she made better.

Memorial donations in memory of Michelle may be sent to BC SPCA.