Patsy May Forrester

1931 - 2016

Patsy May Forrester

May 12, 1931 - July 6, 2016

SOUTH BEND - Patsy May Forrester, 85, residing in South Bend, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, July 6, 2016. Our Mom was born on May 12th 1931 with the given name of Patsy May Risher. She grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, the middle child of Webster Mason Risher and Margaret Pearl (Haddix) Risher. Patsy was born with a hearing deficit and wore hearing aids all of her life.

In 1949, Patsy graduated from Shortridge High School. It was at Shortridge that Patsy was taught to read lips by a wonderful woman named Miss Bartelt. In mom's own words, “Miss Bartelt's guidance was an opening to a new world for me”. In her junior and senior years of high school, she went on to win the citywide lip reading competition. Patsy never let her hearing loss set her back. In fact, she excelled at school, and after high school, went on to Ball State Teachers College and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and also a Master's Degree in Art. She was also a member of the Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority.

While at Ball State, Patsy met a handsome fellow named Roland (Jim) Forrester from South Bend. Jim and Pat dated, and after graduating college, Patsy lived with Jim's parents while Jim served his country during the Korean War. Jim and Pat married on June 5th, 1953 and settled in Elkhart, Indiana, where Pat began teaching art at Northside Middle School. In 1962, Jim and Pat moved into their new home in Granger just two weeks before their first daughter was born, Tammi Lei. Eighteen months later, they had another daughter, Tracy Lynn. Patsy instilled in her girls a strong sense of right and wrong, as well as the importance of manners, honesty and compassion for others. Patsy stayed home with the girls until they started school, and then went back to work teaching elementary school art in the South Bend School District. She taught at several schools over the years, including Maple Lane and Swanson, before retiring from Darden Elementary School. Her teaching career spanned three decades.

Patsy was a wonderful teacher and passionate about the subject she taught. She was ahead of her time in the art mediums which she taught, teaching her students the techniques of mosaic, pottery and ink blotting, just to name a few. Patsy was also involved for many years with the South Bend Schools Art Exhibit. She thoughtfully chose from her students art works which pieces she wanted displayed. She carefully matted each piece and labeled them. She was always very proud of her students!

Patsy took early retirement settling down with Jim in their home that she had designed herself, and which was so important to her. They took several trips after retirement, but mainly enjoyed their home and family. In her lifetime, Patsy was involved with AAUW, Indiana Teachers Association, and also donated to many charities.

Our mom had obstacles in her life, which now in death she has overcome. She is at peace, and for this, we are so very thankful. She was our beautiful mama and we loved her! Patsy leaves behind our wonderful father, Roland (Jim) Forrester and their kitty, Ebony; daughters, Tammi Lei Yoder (Earl) and Tracy Lynn Gluth (Russell); and two grandchildren, Tyler Forrester (girlfriend Kristina Stokes) and Harrison Russel Gluth; as well as one grand dog, Sophie Yoder. She is also survived by nieces, Janice Bell and Irene Schmidtt and their children; and nephews, Mark Risher and Jeff Risher and their children; plus, many cousins.

Patsy's mother and father, Web and Pearl Risher, sister, Ida Blalock and brother, Web Risher have all preceded her in death.

We would like to give special thanks to Dr. Janet Galanes, for giving us extra time with mom; to her wonderful caregivers, whom she loved; to Wellbrooke of South Bend, for the loving care she received during her stay; and finally to Harbor Light Hospice, for their wonderful support.

Funeral services for Patsy will be held at 11:30 am Monday, July 11, 2016 in St. Therese, Little Flower Catholic Church, 54191 N. Ironwood Road, South Bend. Rev. Thomas R. Shoemaker will officiate. Graveside services and burial will follow in St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger. Friends may visit with the family from 10:00 - 11:30 am on Monday in the church prior to services.

Memorial contributions may be donated to St. Labre Indian Catholic High School, 1000 Tongue River Road, Ashland, MT 59003, Covenant House, 460 W. 41st Street, New York, NY 10036, American Association for the Deaf, 800 Florida Avenue NE #2047, Washington, DC 20002-3695 or St. Therese, Little Flower Catholic Church.

Online condolences may be left for the Forrester family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.