In the early hours of Tuesday, October 15, 2013, Andrea Laura Kapogines (nee Forsyth) passed away peacefully with family by her side at the age of 65. She leaves behind a legacy of students and teachers she has influenced throughout her many years of dedicated teaching with OverlandDrivePublic School, StilecroftPublic School, EllwoodMemorialPublic School, BirchbankPublic School and FernforestPublic School. The impact she had on her students and fellow teachers cannot be overstated, as exemplified by the outpouring of love and support she received during her final months. Her passion especially for literature was passed down to every young mind she touched, and the love of reading she instilled in her students will continue to live in future generations. She began her retirement in 2011 and was especially enjoying the time she spent at the family cottage in Parry Sound, where she loved taking pictures of wildlife, sitting in her Muskoka chairs on the dock, and watching the dogs play on the beach. Sadly, she lost a short but hard-fought battle with cancer.
She is preceded by her parents, Harry and Florence Forsyth, and survived by Peter, her husband of 38 years, daughter Melanie and her partner Kevin, son Christopher, his wife Elaine and beloved granddaughter Anastasia. There will be a private service for immediate family through Egan Funeral Home in Bolton (905-857-2213).
In lieu of flowers, a donation in Andrea’s name can be made to Bethell Hospice in Caledon where she gracefully lived out her final days. Condolences for the family may be offered at www.EganFuneralHome.com
Sylvia Forletta
Dear Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this most difficult time of great sorrow. Your mom was most proud of you kids and I know that you will continue to live your lives to honor her memory.
Deepest Sympathy
Carmen Woodburn
Peter and family
I am so sorry to hear about your wife and offer my deepest sympathy on your loss.
The Briggs Family
Peter & Family,
Sorry to hear about Andrea passing. Our thoughts are with you all.
Rob, Cheryl, Ryan & Courtney
Diane Westgarth-Tay,or
Dear Family. I had the pleasure of working with your mom at Fernforest when we opened the school. I was the secretary and loved working with your mom. When I left she gave me a beautiful leaf necklace which I wear to this day. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Jack Conway
Dear Chris and Melanie,
I am sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. She was a wonderful person and a great teacher. My condolences to you and your family.
Jiwan Gill
As a colleague, Andrea was the greatest source of knowledge and inspiration. Her influence is all around my classroom and will always be a part of my teaching. As a friend, there was no one else I could depend on like her. Her laugh, her smile, her wit and her counsel will be missed. I am blessed to have known her.
My prayers and deepest sympathy to the family.
Scott Taylor
You will always be remembered in our thoughts and prayers Andrea.
Rest peacefully.
Trisha, Wayne, Tyler & Lilah Drew
Peter, Melanie, Christopher & family,
We are all so saddened to hear of Andrea’s passing. We will all miss seeing her on Connaught Cres. She always had a huge smile and kind words…and a special treat bag for the kids at Halloween. Our deepest sympathies to your family.
Trisha, Wayne, Tyler & Lilah Drew
Noreen and Don Jackman and Family
We were so sad.to hear of Andrea,s passing her influences
will live on in her students and in you her children our love and prayers will always be with you.
Ken and Christine Graham
Melanie, Chris and Peter
What a shock to hear about Andrea, a fantastic and ultra positive devoted mother and teacher. We both taught with Andrea at Ellwood Memorial P.S. Everybody loved her enthusiasm. I also had the pleasure of teaching both Chris and Melanie. Students don’t come any better and that is a tribute to both Andrea and Peter.
Our heartfelt condolences to all of you.
Ken and Christine Graham
Paul, Elaine, Kirsten and Jackson
Peter and family,
We are very sorry to hear of Andrea’s passing and our thoughts are with you all at this sad time. We will fondly remember her smile and kindness.
Fatima Snieder
Andrea was a wonderful colleague who enriched the lives of those around her. She faced her last months with courage and always with that wonderful smile. I send you my deepest sympathies and pray that you will feel God’s comfort as you go through this sad time.
Fatima Snieder (Teacher at Fernforest)
Sandra Card
Dear Melanie, Christopher and family;
So sorry to hear about your mother. I always admired her work and certainly enjoyed the opportunity to work with you. May you find some comfort in the love and support of family and friends. My heartfelt sympathy. Sandra
Marilyn (and Glenn) Bruton
Peter, Melanie and Chris
What a shock. Fondly, I think of Andrea as she always had encouraging words to say to all of the staff at Ellwood Memorial and all of the children she encountered in the classroom and halls. I had the honour and privilege of knowing Andrea as a professional colleague, a caring mother and someone who was always there as a friend whenever I needed her to assist me in her daughter’s classroom. You will be missed Andrea. You are one of the best. I was blessed to have had you in my life. One does not make friends. One recognizes them. God Bless …
Fondly,
Marilyn (and Glenn) Bruton
Rick Felix
Andrea was a great support when I joined the Grade 2 team at Fernforest. I’ll think of her whenever I put on the Joel Plaskett “Safe In Your Arms” t-shirt she gave me for my birthday. My thoughts are with her and her family at this sad moment.
Karen Moss
I was so sad to hear of Andrea’s passing. I worked with her at both Birchbank and Fernforest schools. She always wore a bright smile on her face, always knew the right thing to say if someone was having a bad day or a difficult time and exemplified the word kindness. Andrea was passionate about the children she taught. She was a creative, inspiring teacher and was very much loved by her students. My deepest sympathies to you her family and know that she will be dearly missed and never forgotten.
Vicki Fisher
Andrea was everyone’s angel….giving so much of herself with complete pleasure and never asking for anything in return. I was privileged to teach with her for so many years and the things she has taught me, I hold dear. My most heartfelt sympathies go out to her family. It has been an honour to have known her.
Donna Kamiel-Forster and Paul Forster
We met Andrea as a customer, but her cheerful, enthusiastic nature endeared her to us as a friend. We will miss the many hours talking with her about books, education, and her favourite topic, author Neil Gaiman. She influenced many lives along her way, from students to student teachers.Please accept our heartfelt condolences.
Donna Kamiel-Forster and Paul Forster
Lorraine Marks
Dear Melanie and Chris, I am so very sorry to read of the loss of your Mum. I am so glad for your Mum and for you and your Dad that her last days were lived gracefully, as you said. As you adjust to her absence, I hope you can take solace in a life well-lived. Sincerely, Lorraine Marks
Lyn Malcher
Dear Peter, Mel & Chris,
I was shocked and saddened to hear of Andrea’s passing. She will always remain one of the 3 monkeys from the good old Ellwood days. Please accept my condolences.
Lyn
Lesley Chmielowiec
Andrea was an amazing friend to me. She was my mentor and was such a master teacher. She was always there for me whenever I needed help in teaching in my new Grade 2 classroom and indeed, throughout my teaching career. She always gave generously of her resources, her talent and her time, and she did this for everyone. I always loved hearing her funny stories and her wisdom about everything. I will miss her tremendously and I am truly blessed to have known her. My sincerest sympathies at this sorrowful time.
Mike Gaunt
Andrea was one of a kind, and starting off my teaching career with someone as passionate about creating experiences for students, while giving so much of herself to colleagues made her an amazing role model. Years after working with her, I still wear my Canada flag tie she gave me for teaching social studies, and offer the copy of Coraline she gave me to students who say they don’t like to read. She was truly a kind-hearted individual who always made it a priority to share a warm smile and make an effort to get to know those around her. Everyone who knew her will feel her loss, and my condolences go out to her family.
Heidi Biasini
I am so sorry to hear about Andrea’s passing. Her presence in a room was always noticed by her upbeat personality and smile. She has touched the lives of hundreds and a part of her will be with every child she encountered. She was a generous and thoughtful person who will be missed. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family.
Lesley and Kevin Wiltshire
Dear Peter, Melanie, and Christopher,
Whenever we think of Andrea we will remember her wonderful smile and laugh. She always made us feel welcome, and the times we spent up at the cottage with her will never be forgotten.
Kevin and I are honoured to have known Andrea, and to share our beautiful granddaughter Anastasia with her. We will always be reminded of Andrea as we watch Ana grow and thrive.
All our love ,
Kevin and Lesley
Pam Robinson
Dear Peter, Melanie and Chris,
So sad to hear of Andrea’s illness and passing. So many wonderful memories of her and our fun times together. She was one of the first people to welcome us to Canada back in 1989, how fortunate that we moved onto your street.
With much love and our sympathies,
Pam, Paul, Claire and James
Jill McRae
May I offer my sincerest condolences to your family.
I wanted to share a story … I was one of your Mom’s students – 43 years ago at Overland Public School in Don Mills. She was my grade 1 teacher and I adored her. I moved when I was 7 years old to Bolton when I was in grade 2. It was about 15 years later when I was about 22 years old I was at the fall fair with my youngest brother Dave who was about 7, when your mom walked up to me to ask if my name was Jill, I said it was. She laughed and asked if I knew who she was … I at first thought who the heck is this crazy lady … lol lol And then she smiled and laughed … OMG I remember that smile … Miss Forsythe ? ? She laughed even harder and said yes, I can’t believe you guessed it was me. I told her that I totally recognized her smile and laugh, I remembered that the most when I was in her class all those years ago. I had to ask how the heck she knew that I was one of her former students, as I know I looked different from when I was 6 years old. She told me that even though many years had passed, when she moved to Bolton and was at Ellwood and saw my brother Dave, she said we were the spitting image of each other and he just had to be a McRae. She had always remembered that when I moved from Don Mills I was moving to Bolton. When she saw Dave at the the fall fair, she asked him who he was with and he said his sister Jill. She told me after we talked for a bit, that is was a great thrill to see a former student, now all grown up. We would cross paths many more times before I moved away, but I always told this story of meeting up with my very first teacher I ever had years later.
I am very sorry for your loss, she truly was wonderful, and I am so happy to have had the chance to have seen her again not as a little six year old, but as an adult.
Dwight Cockburn
My heart goes out to the Kapogines family in this time of loss and sorrow. Andrea was an incredible person. She always had a lively smile. There wasn’t a day in which Andrea didn’t put the students first. She constantly worked diligently in her room; always coming up with creative ways to reach students needs. She will always be remembered as an incredible colleague/educator, a loving family member and a true genuine person. May the prayers of grace and comfort reach all of you in this time of need.
Mary-Jane Meddick
Dear Melanie, Christopher and Peter,
My heartfelt condolences on the passing of Andrea. I will always remember her kindness towards others. It was a pleasure to have worked with her at Ellwood Memorial PS. She will always be in your hearts. Take care.
Ross & Joan Wilson
Peter, I feel so sad having learned of Andreas passing. It is a difficult time for you. I am pleased we had a few minutes to discuss things a few weeks ago. I too am living under stress with my wife having Alzheimers, and now admitted for long term care at Faith Manor in Brampton. I know what a loss means, since Joan is not Joan any more! Andreas suffering is over and she is in the comforting hands of the Lord. Please drop in to the house whenever you have a few minutes. May God Bless.
Greg Chapman
Many found memories of Mrs. Kapogines Beautiful woman with a beautiful smile.
God Bless
Kathy Anderson
Dear Peter and family,
My heartfelt sympathy for the loss of your wife, mother and grandmother. She will be sorely missed by all. Andrea and I maintained a friendship for 15 years even though we were teaching partners for only 4 months at Birchbank. In those 4 months, Andrea taught me more about teaching children than I learned in the remaining 24 years of my career. This was a great testament to her innate ability to teach so that others could learn and understand.
We all have fond memories of Mrs. K. which we will cherish. Hopefully the Lost Boys in Neverland have found their new and wonderful teacher!
Awaz Samad
My condolences to the Kapogines family. I remember having Mrs. Kapogines as my second grade teacher. i would always bother her by talking about the movies I watched the night before, she was never bored with me and always show interest. She introduced me to Lego and got my interests in The Arts started. Mrs. Kapogines had a major influence on me on how you must always be kind to others. She was a great teacher and an even better person, I will never forget her.
La Keisha Thomas
I will always remember the beautiful bright smile on Mrs Kapogines face. I first met her back in grade two at Birchbank and then onto Fernforest. She was an amazing teacher, full of wonderful stories and lessons. My condolences go out to her family and friends. She will never be forgotten
Mehreen Zahra Jiwan
Mrs.Kapogines was one of the most influential and loving teachers that I could be blessed with. Having been in her grade two class over ten years ago, I still cherish the special moments we shared together. From showing me her special strawberry shortcake dolls, to playing bluebird with us at recess, I will never forget how her eyes lit up the entire classroom and her smile warmed each of our hearts. I am now in my first year of university and know that I owe so much of my success to this outstanding woman and wish I could thank her for all that she did.
We will always remember her.
Anonymous
Ms. Kapogines, will never be forgotten. She was an amazing teacher. I speak as one of her previous students. I was in her 2nd grade class, her passion for literacy passed on to me. I love reading now! I’m in eigth grade right now, and I still remember her everytime I pick up Charlie The Chocolate Factory 🙂 Ms Kapogines was the sweetest thing ever. RIP
Samiha Fatima Jiwan
Mrs. Kapogines, taught me so much. She paved my path to where I am today. She taught me to question, and to love learning. Even if it was just a friendly smile, she brightened my day. I am now in eighth grade and I wish I could have thanked her for everything she has blessed with me with. She has definitely left an impact on my heart ad I will never forget learning fractions with Kit-Kat Bars or watching the tadpoles in her class grow. She was always so open-minded and whenever something is hard, I remember her twinkling eyes that help me remember how much sacrifice she gave to each and everyone of her students.
Samiha Fatima Jiwan
As part of a homework assignment, in which we were asked to write about an open-minded person, I chose to write about Mrs. Kapogines.
Life is full of learning. Learning to try new things and to meet new people, learning to never hold on to old ideas or mentalities. Perhaps that was one of the reasons the influential and open-minded Andrea Kapogines taught young students. She believed it was important to be open to others ideas and opinions, not to compromise your beliefs but to consider others perspectives. She was that lady who put a butterfly on her student’s finger and showed them that just like the strokes on the insect’s wing, we too are unique. She taught us to nurture everything, even our classroom tadpoles, because just like tadpoles grow and develop we would too. That we would develop into different people with different perspectives and that was okay. Mrs. Kapogines, let us create songs about our cultures to educate others and share ethnic food. She herself was not only open-minded, but created open-mindedness within her students. Many of them came to her, saying they didn’t like to read and would walk out with a copy of Neil Gaiman’s bizarre piece of literature, Coraline. After that, they would never be seen without a book in their hands. This outstanding woman, despite the fact that it was her lunch break would come outside to the student’s pleasure and play ‘blue bird’ with them at recess. She would treat every child equally and never belittled anyone because she practiced what she preached, that just because someone has different views, it doesn’t mean they don’t deserve respect. The most important lesson learned from her was to be an open-minded person in all aspects from being open-minded in education to being open-minded socially.
Miriam Silvert O'Donnell
MONTHS ago, I could not get Andrea out of my mind! She just seemed to come into my brain with a force that I had never felt before! I decided I would google her and was SO shocked and saddened to discover that she had died! I could not find the words, then, to leave a comment, as I was so stunned by my discovery! Andrea’s classroom was the first that I walked into as a student teacher almost 40 years ago! How lucky I was AND still am to have learned amazing life lessons from an A+ teacher! She gave so much of herself to ALL of her students and was always available to help any staff who needed her! We became friends and my, now, ex-husband and I would visit Andrea and Peter in their home in Bolton and they would visit us in Hamilton, after we moved there from Toronto! Andrea gave me many gifts; she shared her love of teaching and learning, her creativity, her incredible smile, that lit up a room, and how to be a wonderful parent, wife and friend! I wish I had kept in touch and was able to let her know how much she impacted my teaching style! Please accept my sincerest condolences! May her memory be a blessing! Much love, Miriam