Mary Grace died at 12:28 p.m. on Saturday, December 21, 2005 at LaPorte Hospital. She was 87.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 21 at the LaPorte First United Methodist Church with Rev. Doug Hadley officiating. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 2:00-8:00 p.m. at Cutler Funeral Home and at the church on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be in Pine Lake Cemetery.
Mary Grace was born October 19, 1918, in Chicago, IL to Earle R. & Grace E. (Morrice) Alden. On November 27, 1943, in Oak Park, IL, she married George E. Forrest, who survives.
Also surviving are daughters Mary Beth (Gary) Fry of Plymouth, MI and Cathy DeWitt of LaPorte; grandchildren Robert (Tina) DeWitt of LaPorte, Hope (Jason) Roberts of Little Rock, AR, Jonathan (Amy) DeWitt of Avilla, IN, Joanna (Ryan) Huff of LaPorte, Debra (Greg) Marten of Tecumseh, MI, Douglas (Kathy) Fry of Chicago, Catherine (Justin) Brinkman of Carmel, IN and Carolyn Fry of Hawaii; and 12 great-grandchildren.
A sister, Priscilla Posey and a brother, John Alden, preceded her in death.
Mary Grace had worked for Unit District in Elmhurst, IL for 16 years, retiring in 1981.
She graduated from Elmhurst College with a BA Degree in elementary education and later received her master's degree. She taught kindergarten in Elmhurst, IL for 16 years and after moving to LaPorte, taught preschool for three years at the Building Blocks Nursery School at Salem United Methodist Church. She was a member of the LaPorte First United Methodist Church, where she was active in the choir and was a member of the Parish Shepherds. In the 1990s she volunteered at LaPorte Hospital in pastoral care.
Mary Grace's life was dedicated to serving others. She was full of energy and she put that energy to good use in making the lives of others happy. She was loved by all who knew her and will be greatly missed.
Memorials may be made to the First United Church Music Department.