Jessie Forrest
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Dateline New Hampton, NH
Jesse Forrest passed away on August 2nd at the Merrimack County Nursing Home in Boscawen, NH., after a period of declining health. Jesse was born on May 21, 1923 in Lancashire, England, to John and Jesse Ryder. She immigrated to the US with her parents in 1925 and grew up in Brooklyn, NY. Jesse told many stories of her friends and her ethnic neighborhood, especially their trips to Rockaway Beach and Coney Island. She attended public high school and business school. Jesse worked on Wall Street and was especially proud of her work with the British Admiralty during WWII. She met Seppo Olavi Suominen (Wayne Forrest) and they married in January, 1943, before Wayne deployed with the US Navy to the South Pacific. They remained together for 65 years.
After the War, in 1945, they moved from the city and bought a farm in Wentworth, NH. Jessie learned about farming from the Grange, Extension Service and her new neighbors. They raised their three daughters, ran the farm, and eventually turned the farm into a summer resort, Woodhaven Cottages, which they operated successfully for thirty years. When they retired, they built their home on Beech Hill in Wentworth. They spent winters at Vero Beach, FL, at their winter home. Most recently she lived on Dana Hill Road in New Hampton. Jesse was always ready for an adventure and loved to travel, taking many trips in the US and Europe. She visited her birthplace in England in 1985. She especially loved her summer trips to Maine with family.
Jesse was an accomplished artist, especially in landscape painting. She was also a seamstress, sewing all the family's clothes, prom and wedding dresses. She loved to garden, knit and crochet and enjoyed her family and her pets. She taught Sunday School and drove the Wentworth Elementary School Bus. Jessie was an avid swimmer. She swam almost every day and taught all her children and grandchildren how to swim.
Jessie was predeceased by her husband, Wayne and her granddaughter, Shelby Sirlin. She is survived by her daughters; Joan Sirlin of White River Junction, VT., Susan Koh and husband Gary of White River Junction, VT., and Helen Difilippe and husband Jamie of New Hampton, NH; five grandchildren Erik Difilippe and wife Amanda of New Hampton, NH, Anthony Difilippe and Adam Difilippe of New Hampton, NH; Dr Edward Sirlin and wife Sarah of Hollis, NH; and Amy Koh of Newton, MA; and six great grandchildren.
A private burial will be held on August 7th, in the Foster Cemetery in Wentworth, NH.
Dupuis Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. For more information, go to Dupuisfuneralhome.com.