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beloved sister, wife, mother and grandmother of three generations passed away on Tuesday, April 27th in Nanaimo General Hospital.

Her sisters, Lily of Ucluelet and Margaret of Courtney and brother Patrick in Surrey survive her. She leaves all of their five children, Bob (Jan) Vimmy, Alberta, Marie Swain (Herb) Hope, Barbara Hill (Kerry), Black Creek, Bert (Elaine), Port McNeil and Norman (Sylvie) Qualicum Beach, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband George Forsberg in 1988.

Born in Prince Rupert on January 17, 1920, she was the eldest daughter in a family of 11. In 1936 Mary set her eyes on a handsome longshoreman in a Port Alberni café. Soon George and Mary were married, and four of their five children were born on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. After a decade or so in Port Alberni the family moved to Hope. The family settled in Hope for many years, where they had a fifth child, Norman.

Their move in the late 1960s to Port Hardy marked the beginning of dozens of moves that occupied Mary and George for the rest of their married life. Mary spent the last 3 years in the Gardens, at Qualicum Beach. No matter where she lived, Mary was a beacon to her family and they came to see her wherever she called home, offering her secure embrace and lap to new generations and regaling her children and grandchildren with tales that bestowed in each of them a sense of humour, work ethic and forthright approach to the challenges life deals you.

In January many of Mary’s family and friends were with her to celebrate her 90th birthday, where it was abundantly clear that she was loved and cherished by each of the many well wishers that came by or called her on that special day.

A service and tea was held at the Gardens at 650 Berwick Road North, Qualicum Beach on Wednesday, May 3. The family requests that in lieu of flowers-something Mary always loved, to instead, make a donation to their local BCSPCA or a charity of choice.



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