Michele Janeen Forney

Michele Janeen Menne Forney , 49, on Saturday March 19, 2016 died of brain cancer at the home of her parents in Bowie, Maryland. Michele was born on November 7, 1966 in Ware, Massachusetts, the daughter of Rev. Galen Menne and Carolyn Menne.

Mrs. Forney was a beloved media specialist (school librarian) in Prince Georges County Schools. Prior to her illness which began in November 2014, Michele was librarian both at High Bridge Elementary School in Bowie, Maryland and Seabrook Elementary School in Seabrook, Maryland. She previously was a librarian at Anne Arundel County Schools: Jessup Elementary School and Manor View Elementary School.

Michele graduated from Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Maryland in 1984. She attended Towson University and received a bachelor’s degree in mass communications in 1988 and later earned a Master’s Degree in library science.

She was a member of Pasadena United Methodist Church, sang in the choir and was elected as president of the United Methodist Women. As a librarian, she was president of the Maryland Association of State Librarians and served on the Black-Eyed Susan Committee to select children’s books to be read by children at participating schools. Michele was also a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Bowie Chapter, where she has served as secretary.

Eulogy for Michele Forney-part 1

Michele was born on November 7, 1966 in Ware, Massachusetts to her parents Carolyn and Galen Menne. Her parents moved from Pennsylvania to Ware so that Galen could be a student pastor of the Methodist Church in that town while also being a student at Boston University School of Theology. As many of you know, Michele worked as a school librarian. Since she was always selecting children’s books to be part of the Black-Eyed Susan nominations for the year or reading to the children that came to the library, we could not resist reading a child’s book that she received this past Christmas. The title is “On the Night You Were Born” and the author is Nancy Tillman. Michele this book is dedicated to you.

On the night you were born, the moon smiled with such wonder

that the stars peeked in to see you and the night wind whispered,

“Life will never be the same.” Because there has never been anyone

Like you…ever in the world.

So enchanted with you were the wind and rain that they whispered

the sound of your wonderful name. The sound of your name is a

magical one. Let’s say it aloud before we go on. MICHELE!

It sailed through the farmland high one the breeze. Who in the world

is exactly like you ? Who who who

Over the ocean and through the trees…Until everyone heard it

and everyone knew of the one and only ever you.

Not once had there been such eyes, such a nose, such silly, wiggly wonderful toes.

In fact, I think I’ll count to three so you can wiggle your toes

for me.

When the polar bears heard, they danced until dawn. From far away

places the geese flew home. The moon stayed up until morning next day.

And none of the ladybugs flew away.

So whenever you doubt just how special you are and you wonder

who loved you, how much and how far, listening for the honking

High in the sky. (They’re singing a song to remember you by.)

Or notice the bears asleep at the zoo. (It’s because they’ve been

dancing all night for you!)

Or drift off to sleep to the sound of the wind

(Listen closely…it’s whispering your name again!)

If the moon stays up until morning one day, or a

lady bug lands and decides to stay, or a little bird

sits at your window awhile, it’s because they’re

all hoping to see your smile.

For never before in story or rhyme (not even once upon

a time has the world ever known a you, my friend,

and it never will, never ever again…

Heaven blew every trumpet and played every horn on the

wonderful, marvelous night you were born.

Michele entered the world and was cared for by her parents and always surrounded by a loving and caring family of those who were in the church. Five times Michele moved with her family—(from Ware to Peabody, Massachusetts) then (from Peabody to Hagerstown, Maryland,) then from Hagerstown to Lothian, Maryland,) then from (Lothian to Damascus, Maryland,) and lastly (Damascus to Glenn Dale, Md.). Michele was always making new friends at each place she lived, then would leave them and say goodbye and start all over. When Michele grew up she kept on doing what she was good at—making new friends. She has made many, many friends and they stood by her during her illness. They visited her, they cheered her up, they brought food, they brought flowers, they brought gifts and most importantly of all was that they remembered her in their prayers.

Michele had many happy days in her early years. When she was just two years old, her mother would read a book over and over again and soon Michele was

able to say the words out loud on one page and know what words to say when the pages were turned. When she was four years old, her brother Jeremy was

born. Michele loved her baby brother and as they grew up they played together, Michele especially enjoyed the trips to see her grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins in Pennsylvania. She loved the sights and sounds of living in the country and getting to know the farm animals. She went with her family on summer vacations to the town where she was born. Michele and Jeremy would sit in the back seat of the car with the ice chest in between so that they did not fight.

Michele loved going to the library and checking out books. What a joy it was for her when she was able to read books herself. It opened up a whole new world. One assignment she had in elementary school was for her to write a children’s book. She did write a book and treasured it. She brought it to her school library one day and showed it to the students. Maybe one day the students that saw her book will write a book too or perhaps even become a school librarian.

Michele attended three different high schools- Damascus High School in Damascus, DuVal High School in Lanham, and Eleanor High School in Greenbelt.

Michele was an alto and sang in the choirs at each of the schools including the production of the Sound of Music. In addition, she received varsity letters in both cross country and track. Her goal was to get to state competition in each of these sports Michele’s first job was at Baskins and Robins dipping ice cream. In 1984, she graduated from Eleanor Roosevelt High School. Then she went on to Towson University, graduating in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications.

Eulogy for Michele Menne Forney –part 2

Shortly after completing college, Michele married John Forney, who was a member of the Glenn Dale Church. Michele began a job working for The Baltimore-Washington Corridor Chamber of Commerce in Laurel. Soon her son Colin was born. So she ended her job so that she could take care of him. When he was a couple of years old, she would read books to Colin. From that time on until his teenage years, she made sure that at every birthday party she read a book to all of the children attending. Michele looked forward to family vacations and was a good mother. When Colin was in elementary school Michele encouraged him to participate in activities within his church and school. For a time Colin took lessons at playing the violin and he was in the Cub Scouts.

Things changed for Michele when her marriage ended in divorce. She worked part-time and then went back to school at Towson University. From there, she received a Master of Science degree in library science. She became a librarian in Anne Arundel County Schools—Jessup Elementary School and Manor View Elementary School. Michele was the fourth generation of school teachers. Later she became a librarian at Prince George’s County Schools—Seabrook Elementary School and High Bridge Elementary School. Michele lobbied the school board seeking more money in the school budget for library services.

In the years before her illness, she worked 3 days at one school and 2 days at the other. Michele was a member of the Maryland Association for School Librarians since 2004 and served as president in 2010-2011. She was also a member of the Black Eyed Susan Awards Committee since 2006 and helped nominate the children’s books to be read in Maryland elementary schools for each year. At her schools, Michele encouraged students to read these books and then select the book or books that they liked the best. She always planned an ice cream party for all children that participated. Her favorite annual event was to attend the National Book Festivals held in Washington. Michele’s biggest thrill was to meet an author of a children’s book and then have him or her autograph the book. She would even write to some of the authors telling them how much the children at her school liked the book.

Michele’s life changed when a friend introduced her to Michael Morris. They dated, became close friends, and after awhile they became engaged. Michael, Michele and Colin traveled to Florida to visit a friend. While there, Michael became ill, was taken to the hospital, and there he died. Michele went through a rough time in her life. Then someone suggested that she attend a meeting made up of persons who were grieving because of some loss that they had experienced. There she met a woman who would become her closest friend and soon they both were having some fun times not alone but together. Michele always showed ways to care for her friends. She liked to send greeting cards—birthday, sympathy, anniversary, thinking of you—just to name a few occasions. When someone was hurting, she was there to listen

Michele found time not only to attend her church, but participate in many ways. She attended Baldwin Memorial United Methodist Church and then Pasadena United Methodist Church. She sang in the choir, was the story teller at Vacation Bible School, participated in Christmas plays, helped at Bazaars, and was a member of the United Methodist Women. At Pasadena Church she was president of the United Methodist Women prior to her illness. The summer before she became ill she went with her church work team to Camp Hope. Camp Hope is a project stationed in Frostburg, Maryland which brings together over the summer adult teams of workers to make repairs to the homes of shut-ins and persons with low incomes. Michele enjoyed this outreach program so much and planned on going again.

Michele also experienced some exciting times of travel. In 2003 she and her grandmother went to London, England because her parents were living there that summer. Her grandmother who was in her eighties had never ridden on an air plane before. Michele had so much fun showing her grandmother around. Michele and Colin went on two cruises to the Caribbean.

Michele had other interests as well. On Friday nights she would play bunko. She was also a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Bowie Chapter, where she served for a time as secretary.

Michele first discovered that she had brain cancer in November 2014. She moved into the home of her parents in Bowie. She entered into a series of chemo and radiation treatments at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Many friends came to visit. Many friends kept her in prayer even to go as far by putting this prayer request on the prayer list of their church. Many persons kept track of how Michele was doing by going to the internet to a website called “Caring Bridge.” And still others dropped by to visit. This past July Michele no longer had the strength to walk. She was confined to a bed. She received help from Hospice.

There was a point in this struggle that Michele could say only a few words. One morning she awoke and spoke two sentences. One sentence was “Can I go to school today.” Her friend Karen, who introduced the first song, read the words to it and then shared a portion of the eulogy, came to visit Michele and brought her bunny rabbit. She placed the bunny on Michele’s bed and immediately the bunny cuddled under her chin. This time Michele spoke one word. She said “Wow!” And that happened to be the last word that she would speak. God is at work in mysterious ways and is still performing wonders. What an awesome God you and I have—WOW!

Friends, soon, come Sunday, we will add to the one word of WOW. We will hear the words “Christ the Lord is Risen” and we will respond “He is Risen,Indeed.” Death is not the end. Because Christ lives, we shall live also.