Sr. Eveleen Forkin, SM, a Marist Sister, died peacefully on Tuesday, July 15, in the loving care of Angela Hospice. Eveleen was born in Caracastle, Co Mayo, Ireland, on Jan. 8, 1927. She was the oldest of 10 children. She and her siblings attended the local schools.
From an early age, Eveleen felt a call to religious life, but it was when she met the Marist Sisters in high school that she clinched her plan. She entered the novitiate in Paignton, England, in November 1944, and in 1945 went to France for three years where she continued her formation. The next call to Eveleen was to go to Canada where a mission had already begun in New Brunswick. Always up to a challenge from her early years and with a very generous heart, Eveleen’s response was a whole-hearted “yes,” and she set sail for the new endeavor. While in Canada she completed her education and became an outstanding teacher. Her focus and her heart were always with the children. She had remarkable empathy and compassion for those least attractive or those experiencing problems.
After 20 years in Canada when the mission had started to bloom and to sprout new growth, she came to the United States, where she taught for eight years at St. Albert the Great in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, and did pastoral work at St. James in Ferndale for about 12 years. She also spent six years in West Virginia as principal of Our Lady of Peace School. A sabbatical changed her direction once more and she started Personal Human Development groups. The groups flourished and she saw many of the participants on a one-to-one basis. She remained with this ministry until the time of her death.
Eveleen loved being a Marist Sister. May she now rest in God’s peace with the many Marist Sisters she dearly loved.
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