Joan Marie (Raines) Forkin, 78, died Dec. 20, 2009, after a courageous battle with dementia /Alzheimer's.
Mrs. Forkin was born Feb. 22, 1931, in San Francisco. She was the only child of Edward and Marie Raines. Her father worked on the San Francisco Bridge and later, after her father died, she and her mother moved to Chicago. She married Jim Forkin at 18 and enjoyed a 58-year marriage. In 1973, Jim and Joan Forkin moved their family to Hudson to start a new business. Mrs. Forkin worked side by side with her husband as the controller of the company and together they built a very successful food brokerage business.
She traveled all over the world with her husband and enjoyed vacationing in Sarasota, Fla. They loved to go the movies and became the family film critics. She loved to play bridge and was a member of the Country Club of Hudson, where she enjoyed playing tennis and golf. Joan enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and never missed an event they participated in.
Mrs. Forkin is survived by her sons, Patrick Forkin, Tim Forkin (Betsy) and Dan Forkin; daughters, Carol Petersen, Judy Wenum (Chris) and Kelly Knight (Dave); and 12 grandchildren, Brendan, Megan, Mitch, Michael, Andrew, Bradley, Kevin, Griffin, Grady, Danny, Sarah and Madison. She was preceded in death by her son, Michael Forkin.
Memorial donations may be made to St Jude's Children's hospital. The Forkin family also would like to thank all the caregivers at Emeritus in Stow and Crossroads Hospice.
Friends will be received Dec. 27 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Johnson-Romito Funeral Home, 19 E. Main St. in Hudson. Mass of Christian Burial will be Dec. 28 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary Church, 340 N. Main St. Burial will be at Markillie Cemetery Hudson.