Obituary of Eleanor M. (Dolan) Ryder

Eleanor Margaret Ryder, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 7th, 2018 at Cornerstone Hospice in the Villages, Florida at the age of 92.  She had relocated in January of 2016 to Highland Lakes in Leesburg, Florida to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Robert and Joy Cameron. She was born in Bangor February 5, 1926, the daughter of Velzora Joy (Watt) and Patrick James Dolan. Eleanor attended Bangor schools, graduating as a member of The National Honor Society from Bangor High School in 1944. She worked briefly at Furbush Roberts and Sears before marrying Neal A. Ryder, Jr. on April 29, 1947. They shared forty-six wonderful years before his death in 1993.

     When expressing her love, she ascribed her strength to the three "Fs" which to her meant Faith, Family and Friends. She was happiest when surrounded by family and friends. Eleanor loved preparing wonderful meals and hosting parties in honor of special occasions such as bridal and baby showers, anniversaries and holidays.  As she once said, “Our house should have had swinging doors.” All were welcome and the love she so freely gave to her family and friends was what made her so treasured to all who knew her. She also gave of her time by volunteering at The Attic thrift store for twenty-six years before retiring due to ill health. She read voraciously and enjoyed knitting and crocheting, donating many little caps to Eastern Maine Medical Center’s NICU center. Her expertise in crocheting once netted her two blue ribbons on her first ever entries at the Bangor State Fair for her mosaic afghan and decorative pillow.

     Eleanor was predeceased by her parents, her husband, her son Neal A. Ryder, III, daughter-in-law Jennifer (Colbath-Ryder) Holt, granddaughter Lisa (Ryder) Cron, her siblings Elizabeth (Dolan) Sklar, James W. Dolan, Patricia J. Dolan, Katherine (Dolan) Edwards, and Neil H. Dolan. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, (Eleanor) Joy and Robert Cameron of Leesburg, Fl., her son and daughter-in-law, Peter and Kathy (Thomas) Ryder of Hermon, Me., grandchildren Jason L. Ryder and his wife Crystal, Mrs. William S. Irwin (Monica L. Cameron), Mrs. Aaron G. Dunn (Meredith L. Cameron), Mrs. James Kennedy (Laurie Thomas), Craig J. Ryder and fiancé Claire Bickmore, great-grandchildren Mitchel A. and Joseph R. Dunn, Greta L. Irwin, Meghan Irwin McCrum, Holly Irwin Martzial,  and Dru and Zack Kennedy as well as many treasured nieces and nephews. She is survived also by her beloved sister-in-law, Theresa (Ryder) Creighton, God-daughter, Suzanne (Sargent) Nygren and devoted friend of many years, Eleanor Thurston.

 A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 AM Friday, April 27, 2018 at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. John’s Catholic Church, 207 York St., Bangor. Following the Mass there will be a brief reception in the parish hall. Interment will be private at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cancer Care of Maine, c/o Eastern Maine Healthcare Foundation, PO Box 931, Bangor, ME  04402. Arrangements by Kiley & Foley Funeral Service, 299 Union St., Bangor. Messages and memories may be shared with her family at kileyandfoley.com.