Paul was born on March 25 1941 in Newmarket Ontario to Leo Forhan and Cecelia (Quinn) Forhan. He is predeceased by his sister (Mona) known to all as Sister Anthony Daniel. Paul grew up in the area and eventually attended De La Salle College in Toronto. When it came time to go to university he made, what he has described to everyone over the years, as the best decision of his life by choosing to attend St. Francis Xavier in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. While attending St. F.X. he met Mary Jacqueline Rankin and eventually they would marry on September 10th 1962.
After graduating with his teacher’s degree he and Jacquie moved to Cobourg Ontario to begin teaching high school at Cobourg District Collegiate West where he remained until retiring in 1994. He taught history and geography and could always be relied on to supply an endless supply of information on either topic. He was also an active member of the teacher’s union for many years. One of his most treasured memories from all his years of teaching was a trip he made in 1974 to China with a group of students.
Throughout his life Paul wore many hats. Not only was he a teacher, and active Legion member, and union advocate but also, in his younger years, he was actively involved in provincial politics most notably as a campaign manager for many years to the late Howard Sheppard. He was also a farmer and landowner and over the years at their home in Castleton Ontario, Paul and Jacquie raised a variety of animals including horses, goats, pigs, chickens and cattle.
But the hat that he wore with the most pride was that of father and grandpa. His daughter Ellen, son-in-law John with their four children (Liam, Sophie, Anna and Neve), and his son Sean, daughter-in-law Lindsay and their two children (Charlotte and Braeden) were a source of pride and he loved them all dearly. Many works of art dedicated to “Papa Paul” and pictures of all the children line the walls of his workshop.
His workshop was built when Paul and Jacquie moved back to Inverness, Cape Breton once Paul retired from teaching. It was where he discovered his love for woodworking, and like all the other hats he wore throughout his life, he threw himself into this art with all his energy. He became quite a craftsman and has left his family with many treasures to remember him by.
In the final few months of his life Paul was cared for by his wife of 59 years and together they were supported by many friends in the community who provided help in ways that are too numerous to mention. Finally, the palliative care team at the Inverness Hospital assisted the entire family through a very difficult time with grace, respect and kindness, all of which has been appreciated and will never be forgotten.
Funeral services for Paul will be held on July 22nd at 11:00 at Stella Maris Roman Catholic Church in Inverness, Cape Breton. There will be visitation at the church the hour prior to the funeral mass. In lieu of flowers it is the family’s request that donations be sent to the Central Inverness Palliative Care Society or the Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital Foundation. Donations may be sent in care of either of these services via P.O. Box 610, Inverness, NS, B0E 1N0.
On line condolences may be made to: www.invernessfuneralhome.com
