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Ferrance, Eileen Florence Wyss
Eileen Florence Wyss Ferrance died Nov. 23, 2011, after a long battle with cancer. Service will be private at a later date.
Eileen was born Sept. 2, 1947, in Providence, R.I., daughter of Raymond and Ruth (Haswell) Wyss. She was a 1965 graduate of John F. Deering High School, and received Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Rhode Island, studying biology, chemistry, mathematics, and science education. Eileen was elected to Phi Kappa Phi honor society in her junior year of college.
Eileen married Michael Ferrance on Sept. 3, 1968. They recently celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary.
Eileen taught biology at John F. Deering Junior High School for 18 years. In 1983, she received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching and traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet President Reagan as part of this recognition. In 1986, she began work for the Rhode Island Department of Education as state science specialist. She later worked in Andover, Mass., for the Federal Regional Education Laboratory. Eventually her work brought her to the Education Alliance at Brown University, where she retired in 2007.
After retirement she moved with her husband to Iowa City, Iowa, where she enjoyed cooking, traveling, gardening, stained glass, music, and the relaxed life in rural Iowa. She taught stained glass fusing and jewelry making, and participated in numerous arts festivals throughout New England and Iowa. Most of all, she enjoyed her family and grandchildren.
Eileen is survived by her father, Raymond Wyss; sisters, Debbie (Dick) Went of North Scituate, R.I., and Cynthia (Paul) Hilliard of New Hampton, N.H.; husband, Michael; son, David (Lisa) Ferrance of Albuquerque, N.M.; daughter, Susan (Volkan) Orhon of Iowa City; and grandchildren, Cooper, Zia, Emre and Norah.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Ruth (Haswell) Wyss.
In lieu of flowers, kindly make a contribution to Iowa City Hospice () .
Online condolences may be sent to Eileen's family through the Web at
Published Nov. 26, 2011, in The Gazette
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