O. Joan FORGE

O. Joan Forge
June 5, 1924 - September 29, 2013
B. Sc. Hon. (Retired Teacher, Scarborough Board of Education)
On September 29th, 2013, Joan Forge died peacefully at Toronto Western Hospital. Joan Cable was born in Toronto and spend her childhood with her parents Olga (nee Coles) and Harry Cable living on Bingham Avenue. Her
baby sister Nelda Lee was only with them for less than two years but remained in Joan's heart. From childhood on, Joan's strength of character and determination were obvious. She graduated from Malvern Collegiate and completed her Bachelor of Household Science at the University of Toronto. During those years she spent many wonderful summers with family and friends on the Coles family island in Muskoka (Birch Island).
Joan married Frank Forge in 1950 and they moved to their home on Lyall Avenue in 1954. Between 1952 and 1957 Joan and Frank became the proud parents of Michelle, Leslie, and the twins, Martha and Malcolm. In 1963 Joan began the challenging and daunting job of raising four children as a single parent. Armed with her university degree, only five weeks of teacher training and the loving support of her parents, she began a twenty-one year teaching career as a charter member of the staff of Sir Wilfred Laurier Collegiate. Throughout our years with Joan as our mother and role model, we learned the power of perseverance, the need for personal responsibility, the importance of an inquiring mind and the joy of life.

Joan's passion for life and learning has been passed on both directly and indirectly to her grandchildren. Russell Bovell, Bryan and Alan Cook, Adrian and Caitlin Green and Riley Forge will miss their grandmother's care, concern, compassion, love and joy. Family was extremely important to Joan and the loss of her seventh grandchild, Carson Forge was a time of great sadness. Joan will also be remembered fondly by her daughter-in-law, Rhonda and sons-in-law Geoff and Jerry.
As an individual, parent, and teacher, Joan was committed to the ideal of lifelong learning and fulfilling her responsibility as a global citizen. Joan loved the arts and was an active member of the Women's Art Association of Canada and acted as their archivist for a number of years. She was also a permanent member of the Art Gallery of Ontario. She was an avid bridge player and spent many wonderful times with her 'bridge buddies.' Joan also loved to travel and during her retirement was able to visit many countries.
Throughout her life, Joan was a devoted daughter, mother, grandmother and friend. She will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by her friends and family. Joan lived a beautiful and courageous life and has left a legacy of compassion, commitment, tenacity, love and joy.
Family and friends may call at SHERRIN FUNERAL HOME, 873 Kingston Rd, Toronto Phone # 416 698-2861. (due to construction, drive from Main Street east to the Funeral Home) from 2 to 4 pm & 6 to 8 pm Thursday. A celebration of Joan's life will be held in the chapel on Friday, October 4, 2013 at 11 am. Private Cremation. For those who wish, online condolences and/or donations may be made to the Women's Art Association of Canada, Toronto Western Hospital or a charity of your choice at www.sherrinfuneral.ca