With sadness but gratitude for a long life well lived, we announce the peaceful death of Elaine Pitkethley Welsh Lowe Regan Forrest of Sister Leila Greco Apartments and formerly a longtime resident of Hymers on March 1, 2016.
She was born in the Forest of Birse, Aberdeenshire, Scotland on November 13, 1918 to gamekeeper James Elder Lowe and his wife Isabella Jean. She was 97 years old.
Widowed at a young age with small daughter Franne, she met John Andrew Forrest of Hymers during the war. After the war, she agreed to move to Canada, marry John and live with him on his “ranch”.
To augment what was provided by the farm (yes, it wasn’t a ranch), she worked variously and at times at the same time as Clerk/Treasurer of the Township of Gillies, Hymers school janitor, bus driver, Avon lady, Hymers Postmaster and finally in what was probably her favourite role, the first head of the culinary program at Fort William Historical Park.
She was a life-long learner, an adventurer, a wit, a fashion lover and a true character. But at the heart of it all, she was a loving, encouraging and supportive mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great great grandmother and aunt.
She is survived by daughters Franne Regan, Jacquelyn (Henry) Jantunen and Patricia Forrest (Tom Jessiman) and Taylor’s dad Michael Thompson; grandchildren Colleen (Lyle) Craig, Ed (Paulette) Shonoski, Adam (Alex) Jantunen, Mark Jantunen (Jess Cameron); Taylor Thompson, Shannon (Alana) Jessiman-MacArthur; Kyle Jessiman; Leanne (Matt) Tarnawsky ; great grandchildren Matthew (Rachel) Craig; Sarah (Matthew) Lauzon; Heather Shonoski (Paul Kirvan); Curtis Shonoski; William Jantunen and Addison Jessiman-MacArthur and great great granddaughter Lauren Elaine Craig…with another great grandchild and great great grandchild on the way as well as nieces and nephews and their families both in Canada and overseas.
She was predeceased by her parents, first husband Charles Regan, second husband John Andrew Forrest, all of her siblings and siblings-in-law and other family members.
Blessed to be able to play golf well into her nineties, she would always end the game by saying, “If that was my last day golfing, it was a beautiful day”. We suspect that, on her last day on this earth, she would say that it had been a beautiful life.
She was always grateful for the support that she was given. We especially want to thank Dr. Wark for her recent wonderful care as well as Dr. Williams, Dr. Davies, Dr. Miller, Dr. Hassan, Dr. Czarnecki, Dr. Bon, Dr. Lower and Dr. Kirk. She would also want us to thank the staff at Sister Leila Greco Apartments, the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Hospice.
A celebration of the life of Elaine Forrest will be held at the Victoria Inn (Ontario Room) on Saturday, March 12 from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Donations to Doctors without Borders or the charity of your choice in mum’s memory would be appreciated.
