ELIZABETH FORSYTHE

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ELIZABETH FORSYTHE Elizabeth Evelyn Forsythe (nee Edwards) (Bunty) passed away suddenly December 12, 2010, at the age of 90, surrounded by her family in Langley, British Columbia. She was predeceased by her husband Kenneth Cadham Forsythe, her son John Owen Forsythe, her great-granddaughter Annika Burdett, her brothers Peter and Chick, and her sister Ena, of Oxford, England. She is survived by her son Peter Adrian Forsythe, daughters Wendy Roberts (Dai) and Daphne Bradley (James). She is also survived by her devoted grandchildren Sebastian Hanna (Victoria), Leontyne Burdett (Alan), Lauren Humber (Will), Patrick Bradley, Andrew Forsythe and Christopher Forsythe and by great-grandchildren Mahalia (Hailey), Alina, and Owen Burdett, and Cadham Humber. She is fondly remembered by her son-in-law Brian Hanna as well as many nieces and nephews. Bunty was born in Argentina where she spent the first six years of her life on her family's estancia. The family moved back to England where Bunty was raised. During the Second World War she met and married a Canadian pilot in the R.A.F., Ken Forsythe. They were married and moved to Canada in 1943, eventually settling in Ken's hometown Winnipeg, where they raised their four children. In addition to being an involved mother and wife Bunty played badminton, tennis and golf, volunteered at the Children's Hospital and helped with Girl Scouts. It is ironic that although Bunty claimed that she really hated playing bridge, she was a co-founder and long time member of a Fort Garry Bridge Club. The members of the club became lifelong friends. Bunty grew up riding horses in the Argentine and in England and when her children were older she returned to riding and raising horses. This was lifelong passion: riding, jumping, hacking out and hunting. Her love of dressage allowed her to ride well into her elder years. With the support of her husband Ken, she pursued breeding and horse racing with great success in Toronto. The two had a great deal of fun along the way and at 90 she was still riding her beloved thoroughbred, Chester. Bunty was also an animal lover, always surrounded by an assortment of various dogs and cats, both purebred and strays. Retiring to the West Coast in 1986, Ken and Bunty settled in the country in South Langley. A well known and respected figure in the horse world in both Winnipeg and the Langley area, Bunty will be remembered for her fierce devotion to animal welfare. In addition, she was an active participant in the movement to establish multi-trails throughout the Langley rural community and a supporter of the Langley Naturalists. She was a member of St. George's Anglican Church in Fort Langley and the family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to her church or to the Humane Society of your choosing. The family would also like to acknowledge the kindness of the many loyal friends and neighbours who supported this memorable woman in her last days, and to thank Dr. Cheryl Mason of Langley for her skill and compassion. The memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 6 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Georges Anglican Church in Fort Langley.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 21, 2010