Lana Bryant embodied Creemore
A trusty helper with a radiant smile is how Lana Bryant is being remembered by her many friends in Creemore.
Bryant, who died Saturday, Jan. 27 at the age of 77, was involved in numerous volunteer organizations and could be counted on to pitch in for just about any cause.
Whether with the Creemore Horticultural Society, the Tree Society of Creemore, Station on the Green, Friends of the Fountain, Purple Hills Arts and Heritage Society, the Log Cabin or a friend’s side project, Bryant was a stalwart soul. Her friends say she was one of Creemore’s most valued community members. She did a lot and she was always there to help, no matter what needed to be done; if someone needed help she was there.
“She felt so at home [in Creemore]. It just embodied her,” said her daughter Lara Bryant.
Lana moved to the area in 1996 with her late husband, Dr. Rudy Falk, who ran a non-conventional cancer treatment clinic in Toronto. They set up a smaller clinic at Falk’s farm in Glencairn, which was in operation until his retirement.
Lara said after Falk died (in 2000), her three children assumed Lana would move back to Toronto.
“She said no, I’ll never look back. Creemore was her home,” said Lara.
After she lost her husband, Lana became very involved in the community, helping with many different organizations and events.
Lana herself was battling cancer for the better part of two decades but you wouldn’t know it.
“She really kept it at bay,” said Lara. “Her doctor said you have non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, you could live five to 20 years, and my mom just said, ‘well I’ll be on the 20-year side’ and she was.”
“My mother lived for the moment. She never ever looked forward because that was just too uncertain and scary and it served her well. She went through two rounds of chemotherapy and little setbacks. She was so amazing and strong.”
“She wasn’t always affected by her illness. When she had her chemotherapy she would be down for a week and then back up again. Nothing was going to stop her,” said Lara.
She died peacefully at home with her three children by her side, Colin, Lara and Samantha.
A celebration of life will be held at the Station on the Green in Creemore on Sunday, April 15 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Royal Victoria Hospital or Collingwood General and Marine Hospital.
Heartfelt sadness each time I think of Lana no longer living in her home. Lana extended such a warm welcome when we first moved up here to live, to which I will be eternally grateful.
Lana conscientiously supported all the local businesses and community initiatives, encouraging everyone to do the same. Board Member of Station on The Green, Creemore Horticultural Society, Purple Hills Arts Society, Book Clubs and dinner clubs. Selfless generosity was her mode d’operandi
Right up to the last she was fundraising for “Friends of the Fountain” to help preserve the statues, which including her chipping in to clean the sculptures . Lana was out with fervour and commitment to the cause.
Creemore will be continuing to notice a void for a very long time – we have lost a passionate community pillar.
I was a patient of Dr. Falk’s in the 1980’s, age 23 I am now 63. I was given a survival of 3 months.
Lana was always available to listen to you while waiting for the doctor. The last time I seen them both was after they opened the clinic at the farm in 1996? I was sad to hear of Lana passing condolences to the family especially the three children.
Mark Keating,
Toronto.