Catherine Delia Forbes (2 Apr 1925 - 4 Apr 2015)

In loving memory of the late Catherine Delia Forbes who sadly passed away on 4th April 2015.

A joint-funeral for Robin and Catherine Forbes will take place on 17th April.
A separate page has been published in Robin's memory - please click here to leave your memories and condolences.

Mum was born in Belfast on 2nd April 1925 one of 5 siblings. Her mother tragically died when she was only 7 years old and as the second eldest child she became something of a carer for her younger sisters and brother. Her Daddy was a well known boxer at that time and fought in various locations in the UK and abroad so the children were often looked after by relatives. She was particularly close to Alice who was 5 years her junior and Frankie who was 6 years younger and the three of them remained firm friends all their lives. Indeed Aunty Alice and our cousin Ady lived with us on and off throughout our childhoods.

Mum met our Dad at a dance in Belfast. He was a British soldier and she a Belfast Catholic and their romance was controversial for the times.Mum and Dad married in 1948 and moved to London. In 1949 they had their first child, David, and in 1951 their second child, Laura. Mum and Dad were entirely devoted to each other and to us and had a long and happy marriage.

Mum was a loving and happy mother, but if she said 'no' you knew she meant it. In our early years, living in London, we remember many happy times, being taken to Regents Park by Mum & Dad most weekends and getting the rowing boats on the Serpentine, the paddling pool near Hyde Park and flying our kites. Later both our parents were always there for us whenever we had problems in our own lives and gave us their unstinting love and support. Mum loved to socialise, she was a member of the Women's Guild for a while - we remember the cakes, jams and rafia lampshades that filled the house during that time. Our friends were always made welcome at the house. Mum could discuss anything and always enjoyed a lively debate. She liked to read, go to the theatre and all sorts of music and sang along with the radio all the time. In later life she liked to keep herself fit and took up yoga.

We moved often as children while Dad pursued his career and it was in Watford that Mum went to work for De Havillands, later to become British Aerospace as manager of the Drafts Office. When she retired from there she found herself bored with retirement and went to work part time at Marks and Spencers until bowel cancer forced her to give up work. Following her recovery from cancer she went hospital visiting, talking to others who were anxious and afraid as she had been, and giving them hope.

It was heartbreaking when Mum developed Vascular Dementia, we could see her slipping away from us bit by bit until little remained of her bright and charismatic personality. We were thankful though that she always recognised her family right up to the end of her life.

Mum leaves behind her two children, Laura and David, four grandchildren Nicki, Bobby, Claire and Simon and 6 great grandchildren, all of whom she adored and we will miss her tremendously.

It is the wish of the family that instead of flowers, any donations could be made to Dementia UK. There is a Just Giving page which is on the back of the Order of Service for those attending the funeral, but should you wish to say your goodbyes to our Mum, but don’t want to attend the funeral, please feel free to donate via the Funeral Zone/Just Giving site.