MILDRED J. ‘MILLIE’ FORBES

Funeral service for the late Mildred J. ‘Millie’ Forbes, 81, was held October 11 in St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic Church, Upper Tantallon. Burial was in Gate of Heaven cemetery. 

Mrs. Forbes died October 4, 2019, at Hospice Halifax.

Born in Salmon River Lake, Guysborough County, she was the seventh of eight children born to the late Francis and Rose (Burns) MacDonald. Prior to her marriage, she graduated from Mt. St. Bernard College, and worked in the Alumni Office at St. F. X. University. She devoted her life to her family, raising seven accomplished children, and assisting her husband Jack in various business endeavours. She and her husband traveled extensively throughout Canada and the United States of America, and enjoyed several trips to the Caribbean, England and Continental Europe.  Cruises to the Mediterranean and the Baltic were especially enjoyable as was an eight-week journey to New Zealand and Australia. She was an excellent bridge player and belonged to a ladies group in Dartmouth for nearly 50 years.  She and her husband played duplicate bridge in local groups as well as during visits to other areas.  She also enjoyed golf and, although she was relatively late in taking up the game, she became very proficient and was noted for her putting abilities. She was a past president of the Ladies’ Division of Brightwood Golf and Country Club, and was an early winner of the Ladies’ Club Championship at the Glen Arbour Golf Club. When not out on the course, she enjoyed gardening. She also enjoyed photography, water colour painting, and her needle work provided Christmas gifts for her children and grandchildren.  She was faithful to her Catholic roots and was a participant in all Sunday and Holy Day liturgies.  While able, she supported Feed Others of Dartmouth and Hope Cottage with meal preparations.

She is survived by her husband of 60 years, John A. ‘Jack’ Forbes, Jr.; seven children, Penny (Myles) Milligan, John A. ‘Jay’ III (Carla), Jill (friend Joe Wright) Regan, Lee Ann (friend Jeffrey Yazdi) Wentzell, Frank (Gabriela), Jeff (Sylvianne), Josh (Renee); 14 grandchildren, Max and Madeleine; Matthew, Scott and Ben; Flynn (Jeff) Bonazza, and Taylor; their father, Brian; Meghan (fiancé Matt Piche) and Connor (friend Meghan MacNeil); their father, David; Valentina and Mateo; Gabrielle and Danielle; Hannah Jo.; brother, Rod, Erinville; three sisters-in-law, Mary (late Joe) MacDonald, Alexina (late Ed) MacDonald, both of Antigonish; Kaye MacDonald, Edmonton, Alberta; many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by Jay and Carla’s twin boys, John A. IV and S. Patrick, in infancy; six siblings, Kay (late James) Farrell; H. Joseph (Mary) MacDonald; Robert (late Christina) MacDonald; Bernard (late Elsie) MacDonald; Mary ‘Mame’ (late Joseph) Morrison; Ed (Alexina) MacDonald; sister-in-law, Kaye (Rod) MacDonald; parents-in-law, John A.  ‘Jack’ Sr. and Helen (Martin) Forbes; brother-in-law, Bill Forbes; sister-in-law, Dianne (Gerald) Fulton.

Memorial donations may be made to the VON, Hospice Halifax, St. Marguerite Bourgeoys St. Vincent de Paul Society, or Chalice.

Online condolences: [email protected]