BANNON, Iris E. – Santa Barbara News Press

January 16, 1934 – March 6, 2021

Iris Elizabeth Bannon, nee Elizabeth Iris Ryan, passed away on March 6, 2021. She was 87 years old. Iris was born on January 16, 1934 in Dublin, Ireland, to John Ryan and Josephine Fogarty. Iris cherished her childhood in Ireland – she fondly remembered her days with her family gathering peat from a nearby bog to keep it warm all winter and supplies for making dinner to collect. Although life in her town of Templemore was difficult, Iris found a lifelong sense of positivity, happiness and strength in her upbringing.
After joining the convent in 1949 at the age of fifteen, Iris set sail for America on the Queen Mary. After over two years in the monastery, she fell ill and spent weeks in the infirmary with rheumatic fever. Iris made the best of her life, even during her illness, and met a dear friend named Norma in the infirmary. Iris and Norma kept each other on their toes with humor and future plans. Iris reluctantly returned to Ireland in 1951 to recover from her illness. She then moved to England and worked in a bobbin factory.
After Iris made enough money in London to buy a ticket for the Queen Elizabeth, she returned to America in 1954. Upon arriving in New York, Iris took a train across the country to Washington, where Norma and her family helped her obtain her citizenship. The day after arriving in Washington, Iris found work and began building her life in America, mostly through the Catholic community. After settling down, Iris continued to travel as a flight attendant through Alaska Airlines, fulfilling her desire to see new places and meet new people.
In 1966 Iris moved to Goleta, California. She loved the sunshine and worked outside in her beautiful garden. One of her childhood aspirations was to surround herself with flowers and she made that dream come true in a great way by keeping her garden lush with endless flowers and beautiful plants.
Iris created a strong connection with the Goleta community through her work. She began her job at Juvenile Hall before joining Robinsons May as a skilled seamstress, whose flawless work was in great demand in Santa Barbara. Iris continued to serve the Goleta community as a secretary at St. Raphael School, which her children attended. She then worked for Delco as a secretary for over ten years before retiring and focusing her ministry on her family and volunteering with numerous organizations in Santa Barbara and Goleta.
Amazingly, Iris found time to pursue her own creative interests as well, and she was a spectacular poet. Iris received recognition for her published poem “The Two Shilling Piece”. She loved to write and wrote many poems and short stories about her beloved relationships and her hometown. Aside from her writing, Iris also loved the excitement of acting. She drove to Burbank frequently and auditioned for every part she could get her hands on, and ended up getting a few roles as an extra. In her spare time, Iris knitted countless blankets, hats and sweaters. Iris had quite an eye for design, and she hand embroidered many intricate pillows, sheets, and stockings for her family and friends.
Iris was loved by everyone she met. She had an open heart and an open home for loved ones. Iris had many friends and has hosted numerous parties over the years. Her friends remember her for her great sense of humor and zest for life. Iris was an avid grandmother too, and she loved cooking for her family and hanging out with them by the warm fireplace.
Iris has always had a deep love for animals, especially the different dogs she has spent her life with. She loved telling stories about Captain, her black Labrador in Ireland, that she kept in her heart forever. Iris saved and made loving homes to many others in her life – Taffy, the Cockapoo of Vancouver, Washington; Taffy, the Cockapoo from Goleta; Chennie, the tip of Goleta; and Lily, the poodle and Maltese mix that she pampered and loved every day.