Mrs. Verna J. Forsythe, of Kentville passed away Friday, November 29, 2013, at the age of 91. Though a long time resident of Kentville, she grew up in Cambridge with her mom, Mrs. Jean (Durno) Newcombe and her father, Rufus S. Newcombe, who succumbed to illness when she was only 10. Verna was born on August 12, 1922 and graduated from Kings County Academy at the age of 16. She spent several months working at the “San” (Sanatorium) in Kentville before attending Normal College in Truro. At the age of 19, Verna commenced her teaching career in Canaan and concluded it in Kentville, with stints as teacher and/or principal in Cambridge, Woodville and Liverpool in between. She retired from teaching in 1952, two years after she married the man of her dreams, Ronald W. Forsythe, an insurance agent and book keeper, who later became a successful Chartered Accountant in Kentville. Together they raised six “perfect” children: John (Doreen), Sharon (Gary Vaughan), Christina (Kevin) MacQuarrie, the twins – Ken (Lam) and Keith (Stephanie), and Lynn (Peter Todd). Verna continued to live on “the hill” in Kentville after Ron’s passing in 1993 until 2009 when she moved to Kings Riverside Court to enjoy her remaining years without having to cook and clean. Verna was a long time member of The Eastern Star (including Past Matron) and the United Church Women. Her support to the church was exemplary, always quietly assisting where she could with activities such as baking, serving, phone calling, and even being squirreled away in the church basement folding bulletins. Verna’s recreational pastime when she moved to “the hill” was her Thursday bridge game, where she more often than not came home with top score. She also took up bowling when her domestic demand waned and Monday morning you had to catch her early before she headed out to Fairlanes in New Minas. And one of the best kept secrets was her passion for Star Trek reruns. Verna was known for her keen wit, her moral principles, her unfailing generosity, her good cooking, her church work, but most of all for her kindness. She will be deeply missed by her family, her friends, and all of those whose hearts she touched. Verna is survived by her sister-in-law and husband: Jean and Stewart Brown; her 6 children; her 10 grandchildren: John’s David and Jonathan (Rebecca), Sharon’s Charlie and Conor Munro, Chris’s Catherine (Karl Marsters) and Jennifer (Hughie Batherson), Ken’s Khiem (Nicole) and Khuyen, and Lynn’s Treab (Jessica Olson) and Shazlyn Forsythe-Todd; and her 5 great grandchildren: Jonathan’s Poppy and Zoey, Catherine’s Madeline, Jennifer’s Angus, and Khiem’s Ezra. Verna was predeceased by her husband and her sister Margaret who died in infancy. Her birth parents were Amos R. and Margaret (Clattenburg) Leslie and she was predeceased by her biological siblings Margaret Swire, Kelly, Larry and Robert (Bob). Verna’s family would like to extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to the staff at Kings Riverside Court for their care, support, kindness and compassion during Verna’s time there and especially during the last few months. Visitation was held from 7-9 p.m., Saturday, November 30, 2013 in the White Family Funeral Home, Kentville. Funeral services, followed by a reception, was held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 1, 2013 in the White Family Funeral Home, Kentville, Reverend Doctor Randy Crozsman officiating. A private family burial took place in the Elm Grove Cemetery, Steam Mill. Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the United Church of Canada, the Valley Hospice Foundation via the Eastern Star, or to a charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville. On-line inquiries may be directed to www.whitefamilyfuneralhome.com.