Mary (Chromiak) Forsyth

Mary Chromiak Forsyth was born Oct. 27, 1928 and passed away peacefully on Feb. 14, 2016 at the age of 87 years. She was born in Coaldale and attended Coaldale schools, graduating from Coaldale High School in 1946. She was a cheerleader and crowned May queen. She received a scholarship to attend nursing school in Philadelphia.Her father, Wasyl, worked at the mines and her mother, Mary, made the home a wonderful place. Growing up, she enjoyed the small stores of Coaldale, going to the Lansford pool and shopping at its department store for Christmas gifts.

As she became older, she loved attending dances in Nesquehoning and attended St. Mary's Russian Orthodox Church in Coaldale.

She loved returning to Coaldale for visits and family reunions.

After finishing nursing school in Philadelphia, she traveled to California to visit her sister, Helen. It was there she met her future husband, Chuck Forsyth. She maintained an adventurous and good life with him for 63 years.

They had three children: Roxanne, Chuck and Rhonda. For their 60th wedding anniversary, the family held a large social gathering in Hemet, Cal., where a presentation of their 60 years together was shown.

They lived in California, Oregon and Arizona.

Mary was an avid reader and participated in the local garden club and had great enjoyment landscaping her yard. She shared her handmade crafts with others, as gifts.

Her volunteer work included the Port Orford Library, chamber of commerce, Historic Hughes House and Zion Lutheran Church in Oregon.

She had many friends and was well liked, always looking on the positive side of things, staying active and ready for a new day. Others have said she told them many fun stories about her life, including a helicopter ride, with her husband, to explore the Grand Canyon.

Mary has one daughter-in-law, three granddaughters, one great granddaughter and special nieces, nephews and other relatives. She will be missed by family, friends and neighbors.

The Mary Forsyth Nursing Scholarship has been set up in her name, and was presented to a high school senior pursuing a nursing degree in May of 2016.

Published in Times News on July 9, 2016