Angela LaForest

Born on September 6, 1933 in Kingston, Ontario to Andrew and Helen Dillon, Angela and her family lived in Eastern Ontario until 1942. It was then the family relocated to Sioux Lookout, Ontario, where she attended the Sacred Heart School, and the Sioux Lookout High School. She completed her Grade 13 at Notre Dame Convent School in Kingston and then attended Teachers College in North Bay. Angela moved to Fort Frances in September 1952 to teach at St. Mary’s School. In the early 1970’s she spent her time furthering her education by enrolling in winter and summer courses, and obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1973 at Lakehead University. During her teaching career she taught at all three separate schools, retiring as Principal of St. Francis School in 1987. She continued to enjoy teaching in the separate school system as a supply teacher until 2003.

She was united in marriage to Maurice LaForest on July 30, 1955, and they would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year. During the past 27 years “Moe and Ang” traveled to their second home at the SunVista Park in Yuma, Arizona. As “Snowbirds” they forged many lasting friendships with people from all over Canada and the United States.

Through the years, Angela was a very giving person in her community through her numerous volunteer activities. She was a long time member of the Catholic Women’s League, LaVerendrye Hospital Auxiliary, Retired Teachers of Ontario, TOPS, the Rainycrest Auxiliary and as a breast cancer survivor, she was involved with the Rainy River District Breast Health Network. She was also a source of strength and inspiration to others at the local pool, where she frequently attended aquatic exercise classes. In her spare time she enjoyed reading, completing crosswords, working in her flower garden, and took great pleasure in cooking and baking for her family and friends with her vast recipe collection.

Angela leaves behind her husband Maurice; children Maurette LaForest of Lethbridge, AB, Guy LaForest of Fort Frances and John LaForest (Darla) of Lethbridge, AB; daughter-in-law, Janet LaForest of Winnipeg; grandchildren Erin Wiedenhoeft of Dryden, Mark LaForest of Calgary, Kirstin Wiedenhoeft of Calgary, Alexis (LaForest) Teeple of Winnipeg and Adam LaForest of Calgary; great grandchildren Taylor Wiedenhoeft, Camryn Dayman, Quintin Dayman, Kingston LaForest, Jet LaForest and Hunter Teeple; brothers Jack (Laura) Dillon of Fort Frances, ON and Louis (Rae) Dillon of Burnaby, BC and sister Agnus (Louis) Fossesca of Austintown, OH.

She was predeceased by her parents Andrew and Helen Dillon, her brother Brendan Dillon, on January 12, 2005, and by her son Paul, on March 23, 2010.

Mass will be held on Thursday, January 15, 2015 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Fort Frances, Ontario with Father Victor DeGagne officiating.

The honourary pallbearers will be: Maurette LaForest, Sigrid Mosley, Denise Decaire, Laura Dillon, Monique Strain, Shirley Nault, Eileen Jeffery and Carroll McFayden.

If friends so desire in memoriam donations may be made to the LaVerendrye Hospital Auxiliary, 110 Victoria Avenue, Fort Frances, Ontario, P9A 2B7.

Online condolences may be made in care of www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com.