July 22, 1950-November 29, 2023
With dignity, grace, and on her own terms, Eryn passed away at home, surrounded by her family and closest friends.
Eryn was a true Kenora girl and spent most of her life here. Even when she was living in other places, her heart always belonged to Kenora. Eryn was born to parents Alice (née Kelly) and Patrick Rush on July 22, 1950, spending her early years at Camp Robinson before her family moved to Lakeside. Being the eldest of four, Eryn naturally became the “older and wiser” big sister to Jackie, Kelly and Mike.
Perhaps this is where her no-nonsense and ‘tell it like it is’ personality came from. She was always a straight shooter and didn’t sugar coat her opinions. For many, this was just the thing that they needed.
Eryn attended Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, graduating with a degree in library science. It was there that she met the love of her life, Louis. They were married on September 9, 1972 and together made Kenora their home.
Eryn began her career as a librarian working at Mount Carmel School. She quickly became a favourite of many students, leaving a lasting impression on them. She then made the move to the Kenora Public Library, assuming the role of Head Librarian (later CEO), a position which she held for nearly three decades. Eryn loved interacting with the patrons, especially the children and teens. She had a gift for making them feel important, and yes, that sometimes included some tough love. If she saw a student walk into the library at a time when they should obviously be in school, she would quickly go up and ask them how they were doing and why they weren’t in school. She developed relationships of trust with many of them; always watching out for their well-being, as if they were her own. As CEO, Eryn oversaw the expansion of the Kenora Public Library, even coming in under budget-which is of no surprise to those of you who knew her well. When amalgamation happened in 2000, Eryn was the successful candidate for CEO of both the Kenora and Keewatin branches. There were growing pains throughout those early years of amalgamation, but Eryn always championed that both branches were necessary. Eryn treated her staff equally and had tremendous confidence in them. She was also extremely proud that the Kenora branch was a Carnegie Library (of the 125 Carnegie libraries granted in Canada, only 63 are still used as libraries today).
Family was absolutely paramount to Eryn. Both she and Louis were overjoyed when Kristie was born, and she loved her with all her heart. Eryn never hid her pride in her daughter. But true to Eryn’s style, she made sure that Kristie, an only child, remained grounded and put others first.
If the Grinch’s heart was three sizes too small, Eryn’s was three sizes too big. The doors to her house were always open to those who needed a place to stay, a shoulder to cry on, or some of her common-sense advice. Most of them were troubled youth, but not all. It was not unusual for Louis to come home to find that Eryn had taken someone in. Some would stay for a few days, others would stay for months. Eryn always said that there was always room to help others. And of course, she continued to check in on their well-being long after they left.
Baseball was another passion of Eryn’s. She was a well known, and well respected coach for decades. She cared about ‘her girls’ and always told them that they could come to her with anything, which many of them did. On those nights when one of them called her, she was always there. In fact, even after she retired, she remained in contact with some of ‘her girls’. Her love for the game included watching it on TV, The Blue Jays being her favourite team. Despite her declining health, Eryn made a point of going and watching Kristie, her niece or her grand nephew play the game. No longer able to drive, she insisted that Louis take her last summer so that she could watch them play. She was and always will be their greatest cheerleader.
Eryn also loved to play golf and was a long-time member of the Kenora Golf and Country Club. She was an accomplished golfer and had the opportunity to play at numerous courses across Canada and the United States. She especially enjoyed the camaraderie of the other women and made many life-long friends. Later, her fibromyalgia made it difficult to play, but she would try every year, just to see if she could play. When she had to stop playing, she expressed how much she missed the game.
The Roussin home was always considered THE gathering place. Whether it be for Christmas, Easter or Super Bowl, family and friends would gather as one. She was the consummate host, without being stuffy, and she was an excellent cook, although she would always negate that. There was however one time when her brother Kelly came over, opened the front door, expecting to be welcomed by the aroma of turkey roasting in the oven, but there was…nothing. Eryn had forgotten to turn on the oven so that particular Thanksgiving dinner there were buckets of KFC alongside all of the side dishes that she had prepared. Every dinner after that, she would be reminded by a few friends in the morning to make sure the oven was turned on. It was a tradition to go there, which sadly came to an end when they moved out of their home on Pine Ridge Drive.
When Eryn and Louis moved to Winnipeg for a few years, she quickly began looking for something to do. She had been looking at various programs, and heart was drawn to volunteering at the Manitoba Youth Centre, a juvenile detention centre. This was not for the faint of heart, but for Eryn it was as if it was tailor made for her. She looked forward to seeing ‘her kids’ every week. For many of those kids, she was likely the first person who truly cared about them and not surprisingly, they turned to her, a volunteer, rather than the paid staff.
Eryn never let her cancer define her, instead she continued to love, laugh, offer her opinions and be ever-present for countless of people. She made time for those special in her life, regardless of how she was feeling. She seldom complained, although she did finally admit that light and sound brought her immense pain in her final months. It was the same with her years and years of suffering from Fibromyalgia. She forged on through the pain that came with it and unless you were in her inner circle, you would never know the amount of pain she lived with every single day. Eryn was also more than happy to talk to newly diagnosed people who had questions about the disorder.
Eryn is lovingly remembered and cherished by her husband Louis, daughter Kristie, brothers Kelly (Claudine), Mike (Joanne) brothers in law Charlie (Barb), Butch (Elaine), and sister-in-law Emily, numerous nieces and nephews, including her great nephew and nieces, Jace, Tia and Laila. Also mourning and missing her are the many friends both near and far, who treasured their special relationships with her. She is preceded by her parents, her in laws, her sister Jackie and Chloe Poirier.
The family would like to thank the members of Eryn’s medical team, especially the wonderful chemo nurses, palliative care nurse and everyone who supported Eryn throughout her illness, as well as MAID.
Cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will take place at a date to be determined in the spring. In addition to this, the Children’s Library at the Kenora Public Library will officially be named “The Eryn Roussin Children’s Library”. An official unveiling will also be held in the spring. Notices of both of these will be made closer to the date.
Celebration of life will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at the Super 8 - Minis Hall from 1:00 - 4:00pm.
Flowers are gratefully declined. If desired, donations can be made in Eryn’s memory to Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation, please designate the Chemotherapy Department, or to the Kenora Public Library Endowment Fund, Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation.
“Three things to more abundant living: caring about others, daring for others, sharing with others.” -William Arthur Ward.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.brownfuneralhomekenora.com for the Roussin family.
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