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On the evening of April 23 after spending an afternoon with her youngest daughter at her bedside, quietly listening to Scottish hymns and bagpipe music, a wee, almost a century old “lass” slipped away to her final reward. Anne Isabella Dora Forsyth (nee Inglis) with more than 99 years on this earth decided it was time for rest.
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland on September 14, 1924, to James and Frances she was the second youngest in a family of 5 children. She was predeceased by two brothers Douglas and Jimmy and two sisters Frances and Doreen. Anne lived through a time of war at her doorstep and had vivid memories of running to the air raid shelters with her schoolmates. As a young woman, a Canadian soldier on leave caught her eye, (and she his). She told stories of dancing to the Glen Miller Band with Reg in the Princess Street Gardens, and on October 3rd,1944 married her husband Reginald Forsyth.
At the age of 21, with a brand-new baby, and her husband already returned to Canada, she bravely left her country and her family not knowing if and when she would ever see them again. It was on a ship full of War Brides called “The Aquitania” that she made the 7-day voyage to travel to Canada to reunite with Reg in March of 1946 with baby Maureen in her arms. The seas were cold, and rough that time of year, and she describes a voyage where most of the young women and children were seasick for days on end! What a start to a very different life than she had ever experienced. The voyage defined who Anne was and what she would become to family and friends in Canada.
After arriving in Halifax, she boarded a train heading towards an unknown village in Northern Ontario called Norman. She and Maureen arrived at a tiny house they and Reg would share with a local family until they got settled in their own home. Imagine her shock, to discover that there was no indoor plumbing, only an outhouse and water brought inside in buckets. Next, it was on to Hillside Crescent where Anne and Reg raised 4 children; Maureen (Carl) Takats, Sharon (John) Barritt, Lynne Forsyth and son Gary (Patti). It was a small wartime house but with an indoor bathroom at least.
In 1962 she started to work in the laundry department at the newly constructed Pinecrest Home for the Aged. She made lifelong friends there, and for many years, Garnet, Lil, Anne and Gavin frequently spent Friday afternoon enjoying friendship at the Legion pub. Eventually she worked her way up to managing the “Activation” department. Anne was tiny, (she never did make five feet tall) loving, spunky, and full of life. She brought so much joy to the lives of the seniors that joined her there. She developed a special relationship with every senior that attended her activities, crafts, and exercise classes until her retirement in 1984. They were more like family to her, and there were many a weekend that she would have a resident to her home for Sunday dinner.
After losing her husband in 1972, she was faced with raising a 10-year-old son on her own. Anne, however, would not let anything hold her back. At the age of 48, she got her drivers license. She learned to curl, and joined a ladies league. She eventually learned to golf, and also treasured her Bridge club ladies, and their time together. She even purchased a Mustang for a few years on the recommendation of a certain 16-year-old son. She bought her first house by herself on Cambrian drive. When she was in her early 60’s, she bought a cottage on Coney Island, which made it necessary to buy, and learn to operate a boat, independently getting herself back and forth to the mainland. Sure, she came in hot sometimes but with the help of her crew on the island, they were always on lookout to catch her arrival. She enjoyed many great summers on the lake with Murray, Bev, Doug, Jan, John and Chris and a great group of defacto grandkids
Always independent and always on the move she sure enjoyed her travel, a few times home to Scotland, Australia to see her Brother Jimmy, Bermuda for summers with her Daughter, Naples Florida, Calgary, Vancouver and Nova Scotia to name a few.
She was Gma/Nana to 9 grandchildren and Gigi to 11 great grandchildren, Tammy (Darren), Sarah and Adam. Derek (Teryl), Sydnie and Logan. Rachael, (Kevin), Hannah and Avery. Justin (Jessica), Adam and Aidan. Sean (Jaime), Ryder and Oakley. Chelsea. Rebecca (Luke), Scarlett and Grace. Taylor (Chelsea), Ellie, Holly and Quinley. Abby (Morgan). She loved them all and their memories will last a lifetime. Anne had a bond with the wee ones that was magical.
Eventually she moved to Winnipeg in 2006 to a brand-new independent living apartment called The Boulton where she lived on her own until late this January. She enjoyed her time there, made some great friends and loved the staff who remembered her for always being impeccably dressed and full of style.
The family would like to thank the staff at Wiigwas Elder Care for their compassionate and loving care of our mother these last few months. As per Anne’s wishes cremation has taken place, a private celebration of her amazing life will be held at a future date.