LAURA H. FORTI

APPLETON – Laura H. Forti, 73, died unexpectedly Friday, Sept. 29, 2006, at Penobscot Bay Medical Center, after a brief illness. Born May 2, 1933, in Owls Head, she was the only child of Nils L. and Helen Newman Hyvari. She attended the Timber School, Owls Head and was a 1951 graduate of Rockland High School. In earlier years, she was an active stay-at-home mom, who was involved in PTA and all her children’s activities. An accomplished horsewoman, she taught her children horsemanship and the family kept several horses. After her youngest child began school, she entered the workplace and for more than 18 years served as a medical secretary in the practice of Thomas. W. Williams, M.D. She later worked several years as a buyer at Senter Cranes Department Store and most recently with Deans Flowers Shop, both in Rockland. On Oct. 9, 1988, she married Joseph E. Forti at St. Peters Episcopal Church, Rockland. Her family said that she always gave 100% to whatever she did; whether it was riding horses, motorcycling cross country, collecting Pfaltzgraft and roosters, traveling or camping. They also remembered the special things Mrs. Forti did on a regular basis, which included giving each of her grandchildren a two-dollar bill each Easter and a savings bond each birthday. In recent years with her husband, she traveled worldwide, took many trips in their motor home and often visited Alaska. Wherever those travels took her, she always enjoyed gambling and often traveled to Foxwoods for that purpose. Her family said that she was usually extremely successful in that endeavor. She was a longtime communicant of St. Peters Episcopal Church, Rockland. In addition to her husband, Joe of Appleton, Mrs. Forti is survived by three sons and their wives, David J. and Susan Robinson of Belmont, Douglas P. and Marlene Robinson of Gainesville, Texas, and Paul J. and Susan Forti of Farmington, N.Y.; four daughters and their husbands, Cynthia D. and Jon Dean of Rockland, Barbara J. and Walter Black of St. George, Kathleen J. and Raymond Gallant of Stetson and Deborah J. Forti of Bangor; 15 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Friends and relatives are invited to visit 1-3 p.m. Wednesday during an informal gathering, at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St., Rockland. No other services will be held at this time. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Heart Center of Eastern Maine Medical Center, 489 State St., Bangor, ME 04401.