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September 12, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne on Sunday, September 15, 2013 from 2-6 PM.
The funeral service will be held at St. Timothy Lutheran Church, 395 Valley Road, Wayne on Monday, September 16, 2013 at 11 AM. Please assemble directly at the church. A repast will follow the service.
Thelma Ruth Forrester – mother, nurse, writer, teacher, seeker, friend – died peacefully on Thursday, September 12, 2013 with her daughters by her side. She was 98.
Born and raised in New Kensington, PA, the second of five children of Floyd and Ruth Cassel, Thelma was a resident of Wayne for nearly ten years. She has lived at the Christian Health Care Center, Wyckoff, NJ., for the past two years.
Thelma was blessed with creative intelligence. Throughout her entire life she was a writer. She wrote stories and plays – some performed by The Little Theater in New Kensington, PA, – also reflections and essays, inspirational messages and thousands of letters. These writings were reflections of her life, addressing diverse topics including childhood, family members, married life, her nursing career and her spiritual and philosophical journey. Two years ago, her daughters gathered representative samples of the plays, short stories, essays and reflections into a beautiful book, “Treasures of a Lifetime, The Writings of Thelma Ruth Forrester,” and copies were distributed to relatives and friends, keeping alive the thoughts of this wise woman.
The words Thelma Forrester has written and spoken have produced wide-ranging effects – encouraging, comforting, stimulating, inspiring, amusing. She always shared her enthusiasm for writing and reading; it is little wonder her children all love those activities.
Of course, Thelma’s writings could also be frivolous. She once entered a contest to write a slogan for Wheaties breakfast cereal. Her slogan, which was “I buy Wheaties for my family because they dislike it the least,” was never used by the Wheaties Company (wonder why?) – but she was paid two dollars for submitting it, and her “earnings” became a wonderful family joke.
In 1937, Thelma married William Forrester, a newspaperman. Together they brought up their four children, all musical, all sharing this love of words and desire to learn. Thelma’s bravery equipped her children with valuable skills for their lives. She was an inspirational, intellectual and spiritual force for all four of them but she never stopped celebrating their diversity. Her love for them was un-quenching, as illustrated in this letter which she wrote to them before going on a trip in January, 1977:
Dear Children:
I’ve never before felt the need to “Say-Goodbye-maybe-for good” when I went on a trip. But this is strange weather, strange times and I have the feeling that something untoward just might happen.
So what would I want to say? Mostly that I do love each and every one of you. I’m so glad I had four to love. You have been the most important thing in my life (with apologies to your father).
You have all brought much joy, much interest, much pride and satisfaction to my life. Yes much concern, worry and fear sometimes too.
I can’t tell you what it means to me to have known you all since babyhood and to have watched you all develop into four utterly different but fine and fascinating adults. And to realize that if it weren’t for me you wouldn’t even be, let alone be what you are – because for better or for worse, I did influence you.
Thelma’s influence extended beyond her own children. She was beloved by her numerous nieces and nephews – to them too she was an inspiration, mentor, friend and confidant.
She was generous, as well. Ten years ago, when the time came to sell her house, she kept only half the proceeds for herself, dividing the rest among children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. To the youngest, she wrote “This is Grandma’s house speaking. As you know, my house has been sold. I want you all to have a share in it. I know you never visited Grandma T’s house, but you would have loved it. Ask your Mother to show you a picture of it.”
Thelma took an active role at Southminster Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, for many years, particularly as a teacher. She never lectured, but encouraged the individuals in her adult Bible class to decide for themselves on issues related to religion and life. When she moved to NJ, she became a member of St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Wayne. She made it no secret that she preferred the simpler Presbyterian service, however; she was never fully comfortable with the Lutheran liturgy, which she called “ritual.”
At age 48, Thelma returned to school to pursue her lifetime dream of becoming a nurse. On her first day in the school she was subjected to a personality inventory, the results of which indicated that she should consider a career as a dietician. Unconvinced and undeterred by this suggestion, Thelma pursued her dream with still greater determination! At the age of fifty, she graduated, and reported soon after to St. Clair Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA for her first day of work as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She was greeted not-too-warmly by a supervisor, who exclaimed that Thelma was the first LPN that St. Clair Hospital had ever hired and that if she didn’t work out, she would be the last! Thelma not only worked out, she enjoyed a twenty-five year career and was a mentor to many young nurses, particularly Jean Pike, who looked on her as a second mother. Her career was extremely important to Thelma because of the confidence it gave her as she witnessed the positive effects of her care on her patients. Even though she retired years ago, Thelma continued to stay in touch with her younger colleagues by e-mail. (She was using her computer daily until two years ago!)
Another of her interests was puzzles – she was adept at crosswords, crostics, and cryptograms. The love of solving puzzles carried over to “real life” in various ways. For instance, as a nurse she was always pleased when assigned to do an “intake interview” – she would assess the patient and later see how close the doctor came to her diagnosis. In earlier years, when Jim and Anne were about 8 and 10 years old, and the family needed to make frequent trips between New Kensington and their new home in a suburb of Pittsburgh, she would give them algebra problems to keep them contented during the long car journeys.
And – like all Pittsburghers – she was a sports fan. She loved her Pirates and her Steelers. After coming to New Jersey, she extended her enthusiasm to the local teams. It must be said that she infuriated son-in-law Ron, by watching the hated New York Yankees as well as his beloved Mets – as long as it was baseball, she was happy. Football?? Pastor Mountenay loves to tell of an incident that took place one winter when Ron was in Valley Hospital, having had a quadruple bypass and a valve replacement. Anne was with Ron at the hospital, but began to be concerned when she couldn’t reach her mother by phone. She asked Pastor to investigate, and he went to the house. He rang the bell, pounded on the door – no response. Since noise was coming from the television, he feared the worst. He pushed open the door, which fortunately was unlocked, and there was Thelma, glued to the tv screen. He asked why she hadn’t responded to the telephone or the doorbell, and she indignantly replied “THE STEELERS ARE IN THE SUPER BOWL!!!” To her children’s amusement, she even watched and enjoyed the vicious sport of ice hockey, and proudly displayed her autograph of goalie Jaromir Jagr.
By May, 2011, Thelma’s health had begun to deteriorate, and she took up residence in the Christian Health Care Center in Wyckoff , where she remained until her passing. She quickly won the hearts of the staff , who admired her spirit and were amused by her quirky sense of humor. During her first months there, she could often be found sitting at the nurses’ station , keeping charts and notes as the nurses cared for fellow patients. One nurse said, no doubt with some degree of exaggeration, “When we’re not quite sure what’s gone on, we check Thelma’s ‘nurse’s notes’ and then we know!”
This very gentle, very strong,very special woman left her mark in so many ways. She enriched the lives of all who knew her, and she will be greatly missed.
The family wishes to express deep gratitude to the staff of Christian Health Care Center, with special thanks to Shelly, Lorene, Janet, Judy and Yrma, who cared for her so lovingly.
Surviving are her four children: Anne Loffredo of Wayne; James William Forrester and wife Mary of Seattle, WA; Joel Forrester and wife Mary of New York City; and Linda Forrester of New York City. Also six grandchildren: James C. Forrester and wife Maggie; Sarah Bright; Max Forrester; William Landolfi and special friend D’vora Najee; Linda Loffredo and fiancé, Raymond Escobar; and Anthony Loffredo and wife Rose Marie. Also surviving are four great-grandchildren: Michael and Fiona Bright, and Melanie and Breanna Loffredo; two sisters: Mary Louise Springer of Baltimore, MD and Geraldine Cassel of Potomac, MD; and many devoted nieces and nephews.
Thelma was predeceased by her beloved husband William (1976); two sisters, Barbara Alter and Betty Herr; her brother, James Cassel; her son-in-law, Ron Loffredo; three brothers-in-law: Carl Herr, Calvin Alter and William Springer; and two nieces: Shelby Lynn Alter and Nancy Herr Puckett.
Those planning an expression of sympathy in Thelma’s memory are asked to consider St. Timothy Lutheran Church , 395 Valley Road, Wayne, or the Christian Health Care Center, 301 Sicomac Ave., Wyckoff, NJ 07481.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne on Sunday, September 15, 2013 from 2-6 PM.
The funeral service will be held at St. Timothy Lutheran Church, 395 Valley Road, Wayne on Monday, September 16, 2013 at 11 AM. Please assemble directly at the church. A repast will follow the service.
September 12, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne on Sunday, September 15, 2013 from 2-6 PM.
The funeral service will be held at St. Timothy Lutheran Church, 395 Valley Road, Wayne on Monday, September 16, 2013 at 11 AM. Please assemble directly at the church. A repast will follow the service.
Thelma Ruth Forrester – mother, nurse, writer, teacher, seeker, friend – died peacefully on Thursday, September 12, 2013 with her daughters by her side. She was 98.
Born and raised in New Kensington, PA, the second of five children of Floyd and Ruth Cassel, Thelma was a resident of Wayne for nearly ten years. She has lived at the Christian Health Care Center, Wyckoff, NJ., for the past two years.
Thelma was blessed with creative intelligence. Throughout her entire life she was a writer. She wrote stories and plays – some performed by The Little Theater in New Kensington, PA, – also reflections and essays, inspirational messages and thousands of letters. These writings were reflections of her life, addressing diverse topics including childhood, family members, married life, her nursing career and her spiritual and philosophical journey. Two years ago, her daughters gathered representative samples of the plays, short stories, essays and reflections into a beautiful book, “Treasures of a Lifetime, The Writings of Thelma Ruth Forrester,” and copies were distributed to relatives and friends, keeping alive the thoughts of this wise woman.
The words Thelma Forrester has written and spoken have produced wide-ranging effects – encouraging, comforting, stimulating, inspiring, amusing. She always shared her enthusiasm for writing and reading; it is little wonder her children all love those activities.
Of course, Thelma’s writings could also be frivolous. She once entered a contest to write a slogan for Wheaties breakfast cereal. Her slogan, which was “I buy Wheaties for my family because they dislike it the least,” was never used by the Wheaties Company (wonder why?) – but she was paid two dollars for submitting it, and her “earnings” became a wonderful family joke.
In 1937, Thelma married William Forrester, a newspaperman. Together they brought up their four children, all musical, all sharing this love of words and desire to learn. Thelma’s bravery equipped her children with valuable skills for their lives. She was an inspirational, intellectual and spiritual force for all four of them but she never stopped celebrating their diversity. Her love for them was un-quenching, as illustrated in this letter which she wrote to them before going on a trip in January, 1977:
Dear Children:
I’ve never before felt the need to “Say-Goodbye-maybe-for good” when I went on a trip. But this is strange weather, strange times and I have the feeling that something untoward just might happen.
So what would I want to say? Mostly that I do love each and every one of you. I’m so glad I had four to love. You have been the most important thing in my life (with apologies to your father).
You have all brought much joy, much interest, much pride and satisfaction to my life. Yes much concern, worry and fear sometimes too.
I can’t tell you what it means to me to have known you all since babyhood and to have watched you all develop into four utterly different but fine and fascinating adults. And to realize that if it weren’t for me you wouldn’t even be, let alone be what you are – because for better or for worse, I did influence you.
Thelma’s influence extended beyond her own children. She was beloved by her numerous nieces and nephews – to them too she was an inspiration, mentor, friend and confidant.
She was generous, as well. Ten years ago, when the time came to sell her house, she kept only half the proceeds for herself, dividing the rest among children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. To the youngest, she wrote “This is Grandma’s house speaking. As you know, my house has been sold. I want you all to have a share in it. I know you never visited Grandma T’s house, but you would have loved it. Ask your Mother to show you a picture of it.”
Thelma took an active role at Southminster Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, for many years, particularly as a teacher. She never lectured, but encouraged the individuals in her adult Bible class to decide for themselves on issues related to religion and life. When she moved to NJ, she became a member of St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Wayne. She made it no secret that she preferred the simpler Presbyterian service, however; she was never fully comfortable with the Lutheran liturgy, which she called “ritual.”
At age 48, Thelma returned to school to pursue her lifetime dream of becoming a nurse. On her first day in the school she was subjected to a personality inventory, the results of which indicated that she should consider a career as a dietician. Unconvinced and undeterred by this suggestion, Thelma pursued her dream with still greater determination! At the age of fifty, she graduated, and reported soon after to St. Clair Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA for her first day of work as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She was greeted not-too-warmly by a supervisor, who exclaimed that Thelma was the first LPN that St. Clair Hospital had ever hired and that if she didn’t work out, she would be the last! Thelma not only worked out, she enjoyed a twenty-five year career and was a mentor to many young nurses, particularly Jean Pike, who looked on her as a second mother. Her career was extremely important to Thelma because of the confidence it gave her as she witnessed the positive effects of her care on her patients. Even though she retired years ago, Thelma continued to stay in touch with her younger colleagues by e-mail. (She was using her computer daily until two years ago!)
Another of her interests was puzzles – she was adept at crosswords, crostics, and cryptograms. The love of solving puzzles carried over to “real life” in various ways. For instance, as a nurse she was always pleased when assigned to do an “intake interview” – she would assess the patient and later see how close the doctor came to her diagnosis. In earlier years, when Jim and Anne were about 8 and 10 years old, and the family needed to make frequent trips between New Kensington and their new home in a suburb of Pittsburgh, she would give them algebra problems to keep them contented during the long car journeys.
And – like all Pittsburghers – she was a sports fan. She loved her Pirates and her Steelers. After coming to New Jersey, she extended her enthusiasm to the local teams. It must be said that she infuriated son-in-law Ron, by watching the hated New York Yankees as well as his beloved Mets – as long as it was baseball, she was happy. Football?? Pastor Mountenay loves to tell of an incident that took place one winter when Ron was in Valley Hospital, having had a quadruple bypass and a valve replacement. Anne was with Ron at the hospital, but began to be concerned when she couldn’t reach her mother by phone. She asked Pastor to investigate, and he went to the house. He rang the bell, pounded on the door – no response. Since noise was coming from the television, he feared the worst. He pushed open the door, which fortunately was unlocked, and there was Thelma, glued to the tv screen. He asked why she hadn’t responded to the telephone or the doorbell, and she indignantly replied “THE STEELERS ARE IN THE SUPER BOWL!!!” To her children’s amusement, she even watched and enjoyed the vicious sport of ice hockey, and proudly displayed her autograph of goalie Jaromir Jagr.
By May, 2011, Thelma’s health had begun to deteriorate, and she took up residence in the Christian Health Care Center in Wyckoff , where she remained until her passing. She quickly won the hearts of the staff , who admired her spirit and were amused by her quirky sense of humor. During her first months there, she could often be found sitting at the nurses’ station , keeping charts and notes as the nurses cared for fellow patients. One nurse said, no doubt with some degree of exaggeration, “When we’re not quite sure what’s gone on, we check Thelma’s ‘nurse’s notes’ and then we know!”
This very gentle, very strong,very special woman left her mark in so many ways. She enriched the lives of all who knew her, and she will be greatly missed.
The family wishes to express deep gratitude to the staff of Christian Health Care Center, with special thanks to Shelly, Lorene, Janet, Judy and Yrma, who cared for her so lovingly.
Surviving are her four children: Anne Loffredo of Wayne; James William Forrester and wife Mary of Seattle, WA; Joel Forrester and wife Mary of New York City; and Linda Forrester of New York City. Also six grandchildren: James C. Forrester and wife Maggie; Sarah Bright; Max Forrester; William Landolfi and special friend D’vora Najee; Linda Loffredo and fiancé, Raymond Escobar; and Anthony Loffredo and wife Rose Marie. Also surviving are four great-grandchildren: Michael and Fiona Bright, and Melanie and Breanna Loffredo; two sisters: Mary Louise Springer of Baltimore, MD and Geraldine Cassel of Potomac, MD; and many devoted nieces and nephews.
Thelma was predeceased by her beloved husband William (1976); two sisters, Barbara Alter and Betty Herr; her brother, James Cassel; her son-in-law, Ron Loffredo; three brothers-in-law: Carl Herr, Calvin Alter and William Springer; and two nieces: Shelby Lynn Alter and Nancy Herr Puckett.
Those planning an expression of sympathy in Thelma’s memory are asked to consider St. Timothy Lutheran Church , 395 Valley Road, Wayne, or the Christian Health Care Center, 301 Sicomac Ave., Wyckoff, NJ 07481.
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