Theresa May (McFadden) Forster

Theresa was a loved wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. She passed from this life on May 16, 2011 in the family home after a courageous battle with Leukemia.

Theresa was born on November 6, 1940 in Tacoma, WA to Anthony and Mabel (Keller) McFadden. She shared her happy childhood in Kennewick, WA. with her four brothers and one sister, both sets of grandparents, many aunts and uncles and cousins who also lived in Kennewick.

Following graduation from Kennewick High School in 2958 she attended Holy Names College in Spokane, WA. and later the University of Portland in Portland, OR. where she graduated with a BA in Education in 1963. She was President of Women Students and was placed in the "Who's Who of Outstanding Students" for that year.

In December 2963 Theresa married Ed Forster in St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Kennewick, WA. They enjoyed 47 years of commitment and love together.

Theresa taught two years in Fargo, ND. and then moved with her husband to the Brazilian Amazon where he served as an Agricultural Consultant. There, their daughter, Christine, was born. After two years they returned to the U.S.A. as Ed was working as an Agricultural Agent for W.S.U. out of their Othello office. It was there their son, Brian, joined the family. In 1970 the family moved to San Cristobel, Venezuela where Ed again served as an Agricultural Consultant.

Upon their return to the states she began teaching full time. She taught 24 years in the state of Washington in several school districts: Granger, Sunnyside, Quincy and Ephrata. In 1986 she was awarded the Quincy School District Excellence Award. In 1989-90 she was included in the National Register of "Who's Who in American Education"; In 1990 the Ephrata School District awarded her their Excellence in Education Award for that year. She retired from full time teaching in 2001. In "retirement" she became supervisor of Student Teachers for Eastern Washington University for the Columbia Basin Area for four years. Later she designed and taught a reading program for young students at Grant Elementary for three years.

Theresa was a leader and active in the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church as: Religious Ed. Director, teacher, lector, Ephrata Food Bank volunteer, organizer of Small Community Share Groups, Family/Faith Nights, Advent Concerts, Summer Vacation Bible School Director, and Religious Education Council. Recently she began a ministry at St. Rose called the "Good Samaritan Ministry" and her legacy will live on as members of her parish serve one another as needs arrive. Her vision was to have it move out of the church boundaries and into the larger community/communities.

She was a member of the Ephrata Book Club, the Sassy Hats Red Hat club of Ephrata, the Desert Red Hatters of Moses Lake, and she was the reigning Ms. Washington Senior, 2010 for Washington State.

She is survived by her loving husband: Ed Forster of Ephrata. Her mother, Mabel McFadden, Uncle: Hugh (Monica) McFadden, One Aunt: Marie Keller. Two brothers: Ambrose and Michael McFadden. One sister: Marilyn McFadden Rosenburg, all of Kennewick, WA. Her son: Brian (Michelle) Forster, Ephrata. Daughter: Christine Forster Hooper, Moses Lake. Six grandchildren: Jordan & Dylon Hooper. Kalina Forster, Rebeckha, Hope, & Luke Marshall, many nieces, nephews and dear friends in the community where she lived for so many years.

She will be remembered for her love of teaching, storytelling and for children, her sense of humor and her strong empathy for others.

Mass of Christian burial will be held May 25, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Ephrata followed by burial in the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Cemetery. Her family asks that you bring a written memory to be left for a Memory Book. Or, a memory could be sent to 281 Canal Drive, Ephrata.

If desired, donations can be sent to: Pregnancy Support Center, 153 4th Ave., Ephrata, Wa. 98823 or to National Right to Life Headquarters, 512 10th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20004.

Nicoles Funeral Home of Ephrata is in charge of arrangements.