KATHLEEN (KAY) MARY FORSYTH

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KATHLEEN (KAY) MARY FORSYTH

April 30, 1922 - February 27, 2024

On February 27, 2024, Kathleen (Kay) Forsyth (nee Willetts) passed peacefully at Eriksdale’s E.M. Crowe Hospital, just shy of her 102nd birthday, with friends and family by her side.

Kay was born in Eriksdale on April 30, 1922 to parents, Julia and James. Kay, known fondly by so many as "Auntie Kay", lived her entire life in Eriksdale. After finishing high school, Kay completed her nursing degree at the St. Boniface Hospital in 1944. She cared deeply for others and made nursing a lifelong pursuit. After taking time to raise a family with husband James (Jim) Forsyth, Kay went on to complete an advanced nursing degree and study gerontology. She put these skills to work as the area Public Health Nurse and later at the Lundar Personal Care Home.

At the end of the Second World War, by chance Kay ran into her old flame Jim in Winnipeg who had just returned from being overseas with the army. Kay and Jim were married on Kay’s birthday, April 30, 1946 and went on to have four boys, John, James, Allan and Paul.

Kay was a very active member of the community, dedicating much time to the United Church, the hospital guild, ladies auxiliary and other groups. Kay and her friend Lil were instrumental in bringing the wondercafe to life and she remained the glue that held it together well into her nineties.

Kay was deeply spiritual and very charitable with a broad world view. And she never passed up an opportunity to cheer for the underdog.

Kay is survived by her sons, John, James, Paul, daughters-in-law, Susanne Forsyth and Linda Trainor, grandchildren, Avery (Sarah Bains), Heitha (Remy Taves), Casey (Samantha) and Lucas as well as great-grandchildren, Savion, Mikah, Ray and Ethan. In her long life, Kay had been surrounded by some amazing family members and friends who preceded her in death; her "honey" Jim, son Allan, daughter-in-law Thelma Sigurdson Forsyth, brother Jim and his wife Olivia Willetts, as well as many of her husband Jim’s family and just days ago her sister-in-law Iris.

Sincere thanks to all of the medical professionals that helped care for Kay in the weeks leading up to her death, ambulance attendants, doctors and nurses at the Ashern Lakeshore General and Grace Hospitals. In particular, the care and attention provided by the staff at the Eriksdale Hospital was greatly appreciated and heartwarming. It was fitting that Kay was so well looked after in the facility she fought hard to keep in the community.

A Celebration of Life for Kay will be held on Friday, April 26, 2024. Interment will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the Eriksdale Municipal Cemetery and the funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m. in the Eriksdale Recreation Centre followed by a light lunch.

Special thanks to Reverend Melanie Kauppila for taking the service, John and Karen Gray of Arnason Funeral Home for their guidance and compassion, and everyone helping with the service and lunch.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a cause of your choice, any cause as Kay loved so many of them. Here are a few charities that were close to Kay’s heart - Al Forsyth Foundation, Box 21, Eriksdale, MB R0C 0W0, Eriksdale Hospital Guild, c/o Irene Sigurdson, Box 474, Eriksdale, MB R0C 0W0, Eriksdale United Church c/o Carol Boychuk, Box 217, Eriksdale, MB R0C 0W0.

Arrangements by:

ARNASON FUNERAL HOME

Ashern - Lundar

1.204.768.2072

1.866.323.3593

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 20, 2024, Apr 20, 2024