C Louise Forgione

Clara Louise “Weezie” Esterly Forgione, 81 years old, of Hobe Sound, FL (formerly of Stuart, FL; Bechtelsville, Boyertown, Earlville, Hill Church, and Reading, PA) passed away peacefully on Monday June 15, 2021 at Martin Memorial South Hospital, after a rapid decline in health from her short-term rehab at Palm City Nursing & Rehab. Over the past year and a half, she overcame many obstacles including a brain injury from a fall (Jan. 13, 2020) followed by watershed strokes (Feb. 2020), and Covid-19 (June 2020).

She was doing very well for the past year until an upper respiratory infection hospitalized her in April sending her to a rehabilitation facility. While in rehab, she experienced 3 UTIs, with the last one leading to Clostridioides difficile (c.diff), pneumonia, edema, and severe sepsis. These horrible infections led to organ failure resulting in her death. We are so sad that she is gone but glad that she is no longer in pain.

Louise was a loving wife, sister, mother, and friend. Always so full of life and quick with a smile, even with her brain injuries, she was still funnier and quicker than most. Everyone loved her. She was beautiful inside and out.

Weezie joins the love of her life, Gerald “Jerry” D. Forgione (deceased July 19, 2020), to whom she was married for 47 years. The two of them were inseparable sharing a passion for antiques, yard sales, boston terriers, good food, good conversation, fun travels, and great friends.

She is survived by her daughter, Bambi Lynn Yost, of Ames, IA; and her sister Mary Ellen, wife of David Prout, of Earlville; and her brother, Jack, husband of Robin Esterly of Unionville, PA. Louise is also survived by her nephews and nieces: Matt and Tracy Prout, Fred and Tina Prout, Kristy Esterly, and Jake and Lauren Esterly and their children.

Louise Forgione was born May 15, 1940 to John Edwards (deceased Dec. 26, 1985) and Lulu Agnes (Keehn) Esterly (deceased June 1, 2014) in Reading, PA. Her birth given name was Clara Louise Esterly. She is named after her great grandmother Clara but everyone called her Louise or Weezie ever since she was 4 years old.

Growing up along the Manatawny Creek in Earlville, PA, fostered friendships that have lasted a lifetime. Weezie and Butchie (Mary Ellen) spent many hours swimming, fishing, ice skating, and getting into trouble with friends who lived nearby. Her love of travel started at a very young age. At the ages of 13 and 14 respectively, Louise and Mary Ellen would go by train with friends and no adults to Philadelphia and then by bus to Wildwood, NJ where they would spend a week on their own. The two sisters worked for their parents at the Earlville General Store and would often invite friends in to help themselves late at night to anything they wanted.

After graduating high school in 1958, Louise waited tables at the J & E Restaurant in locust grove, PA. and later, briefly at Charcoal Chef in Exeter, PA. She and her childhood sweetheart, Alex A. Yost (deceased July 13, 2019), dated from 3rd grade through college, eventually marrying on December 23, 1961. They were married for 10 years and divorced in 1971.

In 1961, Louise graduated early from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She also took graduate classes at Temple, Kutztown University, and Penn State University. She taught k-8 at Pottstown and Boyertown School Districts for 6 years before giving birth to her daughter. Shortly after, she returned to teaching at Daniel Boone Elementary School in the winter of 1968.

Weezie was always a very dedicated and hard worker. She worked 2-3 jobs at a time for most of her life. In the early 70s, while teaching school, Louise and Alex bought and ran the Earlville Tavern, now known as Mackey’s, and located on Rte. 562 between Boyertown and Reading. She would teach all day and go immediately to work at the bar and restaurant. It was here that she eventually met and fell in love with Jerry Forgione, her part-time bartender. Gerald D. Forgione and Clara Louise Esterly Yost married on March 1, 1973. They continued to run the Earlville Tavern together where they made t-shirts for all of their “Forgione Misfits” and friends.

Louise taught school for 35 years while running two businesses and selling real estate. In 1992, she retired from school to preserve her sanity and to pursue more intensive work in her other three jobs. She sold real estate at Martin, Century 21, and Brumbach Associates for over 25 years, where she was the top selling relator numerous times. In addition, Weezie and Jerry ran a small concrete business and an antique business together for many years before moving to Florida at 55 years of age to “retire” in their favorite state. Once an antique dealer, always an antique dealer…they have been to more yard sales, consignment shops, flea markets, estate sales, etc. than most. Louise and Jerry were yard sale addicts. She loved finding a great deal, collecting favorite objects, and redecorating her house over and over.

Louise Forgione was one of the nicest and most generous people on the planet. She was passionate about many things and was always up for trying anything new. An avid reader, she read 3-5 newspapers daily, always trying to learn more about the world around us. She was an adventurous, risk-taking, independent woman who knew her worth and the value of good friends. She was confident, strong, and braver than most. But most importantly, she was genuine, full of laughter, love, and humor. She was so much fun.

She loved shopping at Beall’s Outlets and would go to 10 different stores on senior discount day. She loved nature, animals, flowers, and all living things. She was still asking for another boston terrier and talking about traveling up until a few days before she passed. And few have traveled to as many places as her: Canada, Mexico, Thailand, China, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, and more. Sadly, she never got to Hawaii or to a Taco Bell but only one of those places is worth visiting anyway.

She loved the exotic and the peculiar and was a huge fan of giving gag gifts to her sister and daughter. She will be remembered as the eclectic, artistic, smart, quirky, goofy, brilliant, lovable sister, wife, mom, aunt, and friend who made everyone laugh until they cried. She loved life and lived every day to the fullest and she would want all who love her to do the same. Please remember her with love and joy and keep her in your heart, but please don’t dwell on sorrow. She never lived in the past. She was always a woman looking ahead, full of optimism about the future. We would all be so lucky to live such a full and happy life.

Her final wish was that she could have one more hot dog and a beer. And for her daughter to be happy.

Memorial services will be held at All Saints Church located at 2303 NE Seaview Dr; Jensen Beach, FL 34957. There will not be a viewing. The service will begin at 12 noon, followed by a procession to the All Saints Cemetery Mausoleum.

A Celebration of Life cocktail party will be held immediately following the ceremony at The Dolphin Bar & Shrimp House in the Lounge located at overlooking the river. Drinks and hors d'oeuvres will be provided. Please join Bambi, family, and friends at 1401 NE Indian River Dr.; Jensen Beach, FL 34957.

There will be a Louise & Jerry Forgione Celebration of Life Party in Berks County, Pennsylvania on July 10, 2021. Time and location are yet to be determined but it will be near Earlville, PA where she grew up. Please join us to share stories, mourn their passing, and mostly to celebrate the fun and happy people they were. Please register on Eventbrite if you plan to attend so that we have enough food and beverages for everyone: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/louise-jerry-forgione-celebration-of-life-event-in-pennsylvania-tickets-160254665017

In lieu of flowers or other gifts, please consider making a "tribute donation" in Louise Forgione's name. Jerry and Weezie have always loved animals and they have supported the no-kill shelter Humane Society of Treasure Coast for many years now. This is a great organization and they find forever homes for many animals. Thank you in advance! Direct link to their website and tribute donations page: https://hstc1.org/Donate

COVID-19 SAFETY – Please consider wearing a mask unless eating or drinking and please practice social distancing. If you do not feel comfortable attending, we definitely understand. We want to keep everyone safe.

For more information, please contact Bambi Yost at 720-217-2871 cell or by e-mail at [email protected].