It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Mom, Florence Anne Forbes (nee English) age 88. Mom was predeceased by our Dad, Lt. Colonel Harold K. Forbes, in 2006. Born during the Depression to Rosy Ella Knox and Alfred Nathaniel English, and raised in east end Toronto, she was blessed into a family with 7 girls (Lenora, Barbara, Beatrice, Florence, Beverly, Jacquelyn, Rosalie) and 6 boys (Robert, Edward, Anthony, Brian, Cameron, Larry). Her siblings tagged Mom with several nicknames (“Flossie”, “Flo” and “Flip”) and they all stuck for life.
Mom and Dad met as teenagers and went on to celebrate 55 years of marriage before Dad passed during which time they raised a family of four children, Brenda (Brad), Leonard (Sanja), Cindy (Len) and Janette (Greg). We grew up loved and cared for, secure in the knowledge that Dad, working up to 3 jobs at a time, would provide for us, while Mom was at home teaching us kindness and love for all mankind. While at home raising her family, she extensively volunteered for the United Church as a Sunday School Teacher, a CGIT Leader and fund raiser for Heart & Stroke.
In the late 1970’s Mom orchestrated, with the support of her siblings, genealogy research for our “Forbes” and “English” family trees. This research went back as far as the 1500s and took her to England, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland and the Prince Edward and Wellington counties of Ontario. She and her siblings were the original Ancestry, not so “.com”.
During their entire marriage, Mom and Dad were members of the Governor General’s Horse Guard family, as Dad rose through the ranks from Cadet to LCol, Commanding Officer. Mom loved her time spent socializing and dancing at all the balls and galas. She also became a member of the GGHG Riding Club where she rode their horses for many years.
When Mom was 40 years old, she developed breast cancer which later went on to metastasize. With determination, hope and support, she fought it and went on to finish raising her family and live another 47 years. She would want anyone fighting breast cancer right now to know there is hope and life ahead for you.
Mom and Dad gave us the gift of cottage life on Chandos Lake. While at the cottage, she loved to read, craft, garden, swim, bird watch, sing and play her guitar. She also loved to journal, gifting her 3 daughters with her life story in individual books, “Memories for My Daughter.”
Once her children were raised, she returned to working fulltime outside the home. She then joined the City of Etobicoke’s Parks and Recreation department retiring 20 years later as Recreation Supervisor - Senior Citizens’ Section. She always looked smart in the red blazer that she and her staff wore to P&R events. During her career Mom received several awards, including the Paul Harris Fellow Award. She also went on to serve as a member of the Ontario Provincial Police Services Board and a community board Member for the Metropolitan Toronto Police Force.
In retirement, Mom and Dad spent many happy winters at their condo in Cathedral City, California, close to several of Mom’s siblings and their families. They had many fun filled gatherings in the sunshine with Mom’s relatives, friends and neighbours.
Mom leaves behind a legacy of 6 grandchildren (Shannon and Emily, Edward and Nicole, Pauline, and Cara) and 8 great-grandchildren (Charlotte, Beatrice and Adelaide, Skylar and Hanna, Chloe, Willa and Sloan), whom she dearly loved.
Due to COVID restrictions, a private family funeral will take place on January 22nd. We will be holding a Celebration of Life in early summer. If desired, donations in memory of Florence can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society, Princess Margaret Hospital, SickKids, Canadian Cancer Society, or Heart and Stroke.
Online condolences may be made through www.turnerporter.ca


Parting words from Flo would be “May the road rise to meet you and the wind be at your back.”