It is with great sadness that we, the family, announce the sudden passing of our mother, auntie, wife, sister, grandmother, cousin, and friend Ramona First Rider (nee Eagle Speaker) on May 28, 2023, in Standoff, Alberta.
Born on July 1, 1965, at Cardston Hospital to Tom and Maggie Eagle Speaker, Ramona was the youngest child of 9 siblings. Ramona was raised in lower Standoff, Alberta by her mother and father, sisters, and brother, and moved into Standoff townsite along with her family in the 1970’s. Ramona attended Standoff Day School as a child and further went on to attend St. Mary’s High School on the Blood Reserve, and later became a loving mother to her daughters Kendra Dayle and Megan Maggie Michelle. Ramona attended Lethbridge Community College in the early 1980/90s and briefly attended the University of Lethbridge in the Indigenous Public Health Program. Ramona received her Blood Tribe Entrepreneur Certificate and was a proud entrepreneur, where she purchased her own food truck, as well as jewelry and turquoise.
Ramona enjoyed staying home where she took pride in being a homemaker, decorating her home with various traditional décor and plants. She enjoyed cooking and cleaning her home, making frybread, shopping at Wal-Mart and the Dollar Store, and eating out at South Luigi’s Restaurant in Lethbridge. Ramona was very close to all her family members and was frequently going all out for her nieces and nephews, whether it was fundraising, taco sales, raffles, or attending their events and celebrations.
Ramona was a devoted and loving grandmother to her granddaughters and grandsons, where she was very involved in raising and caring for them. It was rare to see Ramona without one of her grandchildren by her side and cherished their time together. She loved listening to her music, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Tina Turner, Creedence Clearwater, The Jackson 5, and Rod Stewart.
Ramona is survived by her husband Ervin First Rider, and daughters Kendra Dayle and Megan Maggie Michelle (Cris), grandchildren Brad Terrell, Jayden Sylvia, Karah Taylor, Derek Junior (DJ), Ariana Simone, sister Levena Devine, numerous nieces and nephews, numerous great-nieces and great-nephews, special great-niece Brooklyn Tyra and special ex-son-in-law Brad, and extended families; Eagle Speaker, Blackface, Blackforehead, and Wolf Child.
Ramona was predeceased by her parents Tom and Maggie Eagle Speaker, sisters Peggy, Linda, Elizabeth, Frex, Sharon, Wanda and Mary brother, Thomas, nephews Brian, Shawn, Waylon, KJ, Dre, Lance, and Catlin; nieces Elsie, Brenda, Shirley, Delphine, Sherri, Elysia, and Traci; and grand-nieces Taaliyah and Maggie.
The family of Ramona First Rider apologizes for unintentionally missing anyone during this time.
A Wake Service will be held at Senator Gladstone Hall, Blood Reserve on Sunday, June 11, 2023 from 6:00 -11:00 pm. The Funeral Service will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Blood Reserve on Monday, June 12, 2023 at 11:00 am. Interment to follow in St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Stand Off.
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Born on July 1, 1965, at Cardston Hospital to Tom and Maggie Eagle Speaker, Ramona was the youngest child of 9 siblings. Ramona was raised in lower Standoff, Alberta by her mother and father, sisters, and brother, and moved into Standoff townsite along with her family in the 1970’s. Ramona attended Standoff Day School as a child and further went on to attend St. Mary’s High School on the Blood Reserve, and later became a loving mother to her daughters Kendra Dayle and Megan Maggie Michelle. Ramona attended Lethbridge Community College in the early 1980/90s and briefly attended the University of Lethbridge in the Indigenous Public Health Program. Ramona received her Blood Tribe Entrepreneur Certificate and was a proud entrepreneur, where she purchased her own food truck, as well as jewelry and turquoise.
Ramona enjoyed staying home where she took pride in being a homemaker, decorating her home with various traditional décor and plants. She enjoyed cooking and cleaning her home, making frybread, shopping at Wal-Mart and the Dollar Store, and eating out at South Luigi’s Restaurant in Lethbridge. Ramona was very close to all her family members and was frequently going all out for her nieces and nephews, whether it was fundraising, taco sales, raffles, or attending their events and celebrations.
Ramona was a devoted and loving grandmother to her granddaughters and grandsons, where she was very involved in raising and caring for them. It was rare to see Ramona without one of her grandchildren by her side and cherished their time together. She loved listening to her music, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Tina Turner, Creedence Clearwater, The Jackson 5, and Rod Stewart.
Ramona is survived by her husband Ervin First Rider, and daughters Kendra Dayle and Megan Maggie Michelle (Cris), grandchildren Brad Terrell, Jayden Sylvia, Karah Taylor, Derek Junior (DJ), Ariana Simone, sister Levena Devine, numerous nieces and nephews, numerous great-nieces and great-nephews, special great-niece Brooklyn Tyra and special ex-son-in-law Brad, and extended families; Eagle Speaker, Blackface, Blackforehead, and Wolf Child.
Ramona was predeceased by her parents Tom and Maggie Eagle Speaker, sisters Peggy, Linda, Elizabeth, Frex, Sharon, Wanda and Mary brother, Thomas, nephews Brian, Shawn, Waylon, KJ, Dre, Lance, and Catlin; nieces Elsie, Brenda, Shirley, Delphine, Sherri, Elysia, and Traci; and grand-nieces Taaliyah and Maggie.
The family of Ramona First Rider apologizes for unintentionally missing anyone during this time.
A Wake Service will be held at Senator Gladstone Hall, Blood Reserve on Sunday, June 11, 2023 from 6:00 -11:00 pm. The Funeral Service will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Blood Reserve on Monday, June 12, 2023 at 11:00 am. Interment to follow in St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Stand Off.
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