Parcourez la nécrologie de Fiona Elizabeth Forner October 25 1942 January 2 2025 résidant dans la province Alberta pour le détail des funérailles
Fiona Elizabeth Forner
October 25, 1942 – January 2, 2025
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In Loving Memory of Fiona E. Forner
October 25, 1942 – January 2, 2025
With our deepest sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved Fiona E. (Niznik) Forner in Rimbey, Alberta on January 2, 2025. Born on October 25, 1942, in Bassano, Alberta, Fiona grew up amidst the serene beauty of Antelope Creek, where her greatest entertainment was wandering the expansive prairies, immersing herself in books, and intently studying the intricate details of plants and the natural world. This ageless connection to her surroundings sparked her lifelong thirst for adventure and discovery, laying the foundation for the inquisitive and vibrant spirit she carried throughout her life.
Fiona’s curiosity and determination led her to nursing, one of the few educational paths available to women in the 1960s. This decision marked the beginning of an extraordinary career. As a registered nurse, she excelled in emergency departments, labor and delivery, internal medicine, gastroenterology, an innovative burn unit and palliative care. She worked tirelessly on the front lines of the AIDS and HIV epidemic in the late 1980s and retired as a compassionate advocate for patients in palliative care. Even in her final years, as Alzheimer’s advanced and her sense of place faded, Fiona’s innate wisdom and deeply caring spirit continued to shine. She often offered thoughtful insights to the care team about the needs of other residents, a testament to her enduring compassion, and excellent clinical skills. Despite the challenges, her gentleness and humor remained intact, endearing her to everyone around her. The caregivers at Bethany frequently shared how much they adored her.
In 1964, Fiona married Ed Forner in Brooks, Alberta, in the same church where her final life ceremony will be held. Together, they embarked on a journey filled with love, adventure, and family. Their journey took them to Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Grand Prairie (where Cathy and Cori were born), and Calgary (where Christine was born). From there, they moved to Fort St. John, British Columbia; Saskatoon and Clavet, Saskatchewan; Selkirk and Winnipeg, Manitoba; and finally back to Calgary in 1979. In 1992, Fiona and Ed relocated to Kelowna, British Columbia, where Cori and her children joined them. They returned to Alberta in 2004 to live next door to Christine. In 2020, they moved to Sylvan Lake to be near Cathy, where Fiona spent her final peaceful years, ultimately residing at Bethany Care Centre. Last year Mom and Dad celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.
Fiona was a natural athlete with an effortless ability in sports like skiing, golfing, scuba diving and other physical activities. Her grace and agility were beautifully matched by her boundless creativity. Fiona was a gifted artist, crafting stunning paintings that captured her unique perspective. She was also a talented pianist and guitarist, effortlessly playing by ear, and an exceptional seamstress whose skill brought intricate designs to life. Her talent extended to the outdoors, where her natural green thumb created enchanted wonders, transforming our yards into vibrant retreats that looked straight out of a botanical garden. She lovingly crafted clothing, doll outfits, and treasured costumes for her children and grandchildren. Her hands wove magic into the lives of those she loved.
Her greatest joy was her role as a mother and grandmother. Fiona was a nurturing presence to two generations of children, always ensuring everyone was cared for. She became an unwavering support to her daughter Cori and her two children, Alea and Aryk, in the 1990s, and later played a crucial role in helping Christine raise her three children, Jon, Zack, and Jill. Fiona was a devoted supporter, rarely missing a soccer game, hockey tournament, ski meet, or dance recital. Amid her busy schedule, she still found time to bake and cook for these extra households, her love and care evident in every effort. Her pride in her children and grandchildren’s accomplishments was radiant and palpable, a testament to her unwavering dedication and boundless affection for her family.
Fiona had an incredible zest for life and an adventurous spirit, paired with a love of travel that took her across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Ukraine, Hawaii, and South America—where she impressively climbed Machu Picchu at the age of 74! Whether she was transporting horses or embarking on long drives with Ed, Fiona approached every journey with excitement and an insatiable curiosity, turning each trip into an adventure. Her wonder extended far beyond the physical world; she was deeply fascinated by all kinds of spirituality, often mischievously referring to her interests as ‘woo-woo.’ Fiona’s thirst for knowledge was insatiable, and her open mind and venturesome heart allowed her to explore life in all its dimensions.
Her final years in Sylvan Lake and at Bethany Care Centre were marked by her wit, grace, and warm spirit. She was a favorite among everyone, always smiling, making people laugh, and bringing light to those around her.
Fiona is survived by her devoted husband, Ed, her daughters Cathy (Marie Pijeau), Cori, and Christine Forner, her grandchildren Alea (Damon Ausberry), and Aryk (Tessa Miller) Smaniotto, Jon (Maddisson Tiffin), Zackery, and Jill Proudfoot. She is also survived by her brothers Jack (Donna and Charity), George (Joan, Tracy, Brad, and Bruce), and Ron (Glenda, Wanita, Lori, Dustin, and Aaron) Niznik. She is predeceased by her mother, Jenny (Genovia) Niznik, who passed away on December 20, 2023, and her father John Niznik who passed in 1985, and her brother Pat who passed in 1976.
Fiona taught us all what it means to love and to truly understand, in our hearts, the essence of nurturing and caring. Her life was a testament to love, creativity, a strong-will, inquisitiveness, and grit. Her absence leaves a void that can never be filled. She loved us deeply, even through the hard times. Mothers’ voices are often dismissed as biased, but we want to shatter that myth and declare that her love for us wasn’t born of bias, it was born of clarity. She saw us with unflinching truth, acknowledging both our struggles and our strengths, and she believed in our worth even when we struggled to see it ourselves. Her greatest wish was for us to see ourselves as she did – with love, kindness, pride, adoration, joy, and unwavering acceptance.
We all have a new guardian angel who will continue to move mountains to ensure her family is cared for. She is somewhere, her mind sharp and clear, her body finally free of pain, holding a pen and intently observing the world around her. She is savoring the joy of finally having all the time she needs to explore everything that fascinates her, fully immersed in the endless wonders that captivate her spirit. Writing in her new journal, capturing all she is learning, and, with her signature playfulness, exploring the many ways she can influence and gently haunt us.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1:00 PM on Friday, January 10, 2025, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 511 4 St W, Brooks, Alberta. Rev. Eligio Canete Celebrant. Interment to follow at Brooks Cemetery. Lunch will follow at Cassils Community Centre, 190073 Range Road 155, Newell County No. 4, Brooks, AB. For directions to the Cassils Community Centre, you can view the map here: maps.app.goo.gl/xH33bxBL7DMVEkMT8
SERVICES
Funeral Mass
Friday, January 10, 2025
1:00 PM
St. Mary’s Catholic Church
511 4 St W
Brooks, Alberta T1R 0B2
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Reception
Friday, January 10, 2025
3:00 PM
Cassils Community Centre
Township Road 190A Range Road 155
Brooks, AB T1R 1C7
Get Directions on Google Maps
October 25 1942 January 2 2025
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Fiona Elizabeth Forner October 25 1942 January 2 2025..
Décès pour la Ville: Brooks, Province: Alberta
avis deces Fiona Elizabeth Forner October 25 1942 January 2 2025
necrologie Fiona Elizabeth Forner October 25 1942 January 2 2025
Nous offrons nos plus sincères condoléances à la famille et aux amis de Fiona Elizabeth Forner October 25 1942 January 2 2025 et espérons que leur mémoire pourra être une source de réconfort pendant cette période difficile. Vos pensées et vos mots aimables sont grandement appréciés.