Jean Isabel Ainslie (nee Ryan)
September 20, 1944 – May 16, 2018

Our “Jeanie Ryan from up-street” would like to share with you that after 72 years, her travels here are now complete.

Jean is survived by her husband, William Alexander Ainslie; daughter, Sheila Ann (Dave) Dix, Milton, ON; son, John Ryan Ainslie, New Westminster, BC; grandchildren, William David Dix, Milton, ON, and William Conner Ainslie, Edmonton, AB; nephew, Craig Ryan, Trenton, NS; and brother in law, John Barry Ainslie, Parksville, BC.

Born to Herb & Grace Ryan of Trenton, NS, Jean grew up on Duke St. with her two brothers Baxter & Jack Ryan and whether she was highland dancing or beating a drum in the marching band, it was her spirit, her smile and her energy that those will remember most when they fondly recall the dark haired girl with the beautiful big eyes who would come to travel the world bringing that infectious spirit with her.

Her beauty, both inside and out, also caught the eye of her handsome airman & husband to be, her fly boy, Bill Ainslie. Thus began the love affair that would take our Jean around the world where she would raise her family in the cities and towns across North America. Jean could be found throughout those years throwing renowned Canada Day parties in Omaha, Nebraska, night skiing in Mt. St. Bruno, Quebec, hot tubbing lakeside in Virginia Beach, Virginia, disco dancing in Toronto, Ontario or over-seeing the building of her family’s most cherished home in Courtenay, British Columbia. For those that knew Jean best, they would admit that time spent with Jean was best experienced on a sheet of ice or a freshly mowed fairway where she worked to master throwing stones and smacking little white balls, the latter of which started a competition that won her a first trip to Hawaii, one to be
repeated many times over.

She would smile when telling us that the world didn’t owe her much, other than maybe more time with family and friends, especially given her many travels throughout Europe that took her to Lisbon, Munich, Bavaria, Brussels, Bruges and her favorites, Paris & Versailles where she was in awe and quite at home strolling the Champs Elysees, the Seine and taking in the sights and sounds of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and her inspiring visit to Notre Dame.
With her family raised, and to no ones’ surprise, retirement didn’t slow her down either, not one bit. With the love of her life on her arm they joined friends and family on many cruise trips to Hawaii, Alaska and through the Panama Canal and were present for celebrations and visits highlighted by the two newest loves of her life, her grandchildren, Billy and Conner.
Watching over all of us now, we know she would not tolerate tears for a life well lived by a girl, mother, and wife most loved. With this in mind we will miss her greatly and will celebrate her daily as we take her with us in our hearts and on our travels, until we meet again.