Forester, Heather Lynne – Heather’s family are sad to announce that she passed away at St. Paul’s Hospital, Saskatoon, on April 23, 2023. She suffered a broken hip before Christmas and had a number of worsening complications and started to leave us on the day of, what would have been, her beloved daughter Jennifer’s 50th birthday. She was 73 years old.

Heather was predeceased by her daughter Jennifer in 1992, her husband Larry in 2018, and her brother Tom Colbourne in 2010.

Left to cherish her memory are her sons Jason (Marilyn) and Martin (Carmen) along with grandchildren Alysha, Matthew, Darian, Addison, Amelia, Laura-Beth, Jocelyn and a great-grandchild Jericho. She is survived by her sister Holly Celeste Colbourne.

She was born in Halifax, NS on June 26, 1949 and lived in Edmonton and Vancouver with her family.  She attended Notre Dame school in Wilcox, SK for a few years and then struck out on her own.  She lived and worked various jobs in places including Winnipeg, Vancouver and Jasper.  While waitressing in Jasper she met Larry Forester, who ordered liver and eggs with ketchup for breakfast and yet she still ended up marrying him in 1968.

After living with Larry in Edmonton, Yellowknife and Jasper she then embarked on her career as a mom.  As she had had a chaotic upbringing and came from a broken home, she vowed to make her kids and family as happy as possible and that is what she did. She had a son Jason, born in 1971 and a daughter Jennifer born in 1973.

In 1975 she moved to North Battleford and spent the remainder of her life there, excepting one year in Calgary in the 1990s. In North Battleford she worked part-time at an auction house, a pizza place and later, full-time, at the lottery Kiosk in the CO-OP Mall where she was well known and well liked by her many regular customers.  She volunteered at her children’s schools and helped her daughter with getting the S.P.C.A. running.  She loved animals and always took in strays and she was especially fond of her many cats. She also took in stray kids of all kinds. Her home was a welcoming place for any of her children’s friends who were experiencing difficulties at home.  She was also well read, and especially fond of poetry, and passed that love of reading on to her children who she would often read to.  It was a treat for her kids to have her read to them on the long drives out to B.C. on summer holidays as they enjoyed the vacation treat bags that she would prepare with colouring books, games, toys and fruits.

Family was important to her, and tragedy struck her family early on when her daughter Jennifer was killed by a drunk driver at the age of 19.  This had a devastating effect on her life and would be a burden she would shoulder for the rest of her life.  In later years she lost her husband after a long battle with cancer, and this too proved to be a difficult time.  They had rarely been apart for over 50 years, and many were worried how she would fare after this, but she quit smoking the day of his funeral and lived a successful life on her own in her apartment, aided by her old friends and the new ones she made there.   In her later years she battled cancer and kidney failure and although she feared she wouldn’t be able to handle it she always pulled through. She enjoyed going for coffee and tea and discovered the Internet on her tablet.  She liked to watch such shows as Coronation Street, COPS and other reality TV shows and listening to music both old and new.  Later in her life her family grew as she was reunited with a son that she had given up for adoption as a teenager. She had a great relationship with Martin Moore and his family and was especially happy that she got to visit with them several times.  She also had a chance to visit her sister in Newfoundland a few years ago.  It was a trip of a lifetime, and she was very happy that she got to connect with her sister Celeste and her roots.

Heather will forever be remembered as a kind soul with a big heart. She will be forever missed by her family and friends. Anyone who would wish to make a donation in her name could donate to the Kidney Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society or their local animal shelter.

“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention.” ~ Khalil Gibran

 

Condolences for the family can be made at www.eternalmemoriesfuneral.ca Arrangements have been entrusted to Eternal Memories Funeral Service & Crematorium.

• Date : 2023-05-04
• Location : North Battleford, SK