Fern Forrest
August 8, 1940 — January 5, 2018
In Loving Memory
Margaret "Fern" Forrest
Memorial Mass
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
11:00 a.m.
Christ the King Roman Catholic Church
Rose Valley SK
Fern was born on August 8, 1940, second daughter to Gordon and Whilelmina (Bondarenko) McBeth. She had one older sister, Marlene; two younger sisters, Jean and Donna; and one brother, Rod. She attended grade school in the Henribourg-Honeymoon district and high school at East Central. She went on to become a teacher, accepting her first job in Tanglewood, a one-room school offering grades one to eight. She married Eugene Forrest on August 25, 1961. Together they owned and operated the Christopher Lake Hotel until 1975, Rainbow Cabins and Motel in Cochin from 1975 to 1976, and Fern’s Groceteria at Murray Point from 1977 to1984. She and Eugene moved to Rose Valley in 1985, where they owned and operated Forrest’s Fine Foods until 2007 when they retired.
Fern loved to spend time with her friends and family. She taught herself to play the piano, and sing-a-longs were a big part of family visits and camping trips. She enjoyed reading, dancing, playing cards and holding her little dog Penny. Even when she was diagnosed with cancer, enduring surgeries and treatment, she rarely complained and always maintained a positive attitude. She was an outstanding wife, mother and grandmother. She will be remembered with love, laughter and genuine fondness.
Fern was predeceased by her father Gordon McBeth in 1999, her son Gordon Forrest in 2004, and her mother Whilelmina (Bondarenko) Mcbeth in 2014.
Left to cherish Fern are her husband Eugene; sisters, Marlene (Ken) Harper of Birch Hills, Jean (Henri) Paulhus of Kelowna, and Donna (James Figley) McBeth of Asquith; brother Rod (Jasmin) McBeth of Edmonton; children, Harold Forrest of New Sarepta, and Kathryn (Leonard) Stefaniuk of Calgary; granddaughters, Melissa Forrest of Spruce Grove, Kayla Forrest of Spruce Grove, Hailey (Justin) Morabito of Calgary, and Lauren Stefaniuk of Olds; as well as her brothers- and sisters-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews.