The death in the Intensive Care Unit of the Royal Victoria Hospital on 26th March last following a road traffic accident near her home, in which her father was also injured, of Arlene Forbes (19), from Sycamore Drive, Enniskillen evoked widespread genuine shock and sympathy.
She was the only daughter of Dessie and Maura and she was pre-deceased by her only brother, Darren who died suddenly in August, 1999. He was 20. Arlene and her father were back-seat passengers in a car that was returning them home 10 days earlier.
Arlene worked locally in the retail trade. She had attended St Theresa's PS, St Fanchea's College and Enniskillen Integrated College. On leaving school, she secured a job with Manpower. She made friends easily and loved travel.
One of her journeys, as a member of the Wider Horizons scheme, took her to Canada for a two-month placement in Waterloo, in Ontario with the School of Optometry. She forged further friendships whilst there and loved every minute of her stay. In turn, she made such a first impression that she was invited back. She was tempted but she opted for home. When news of her tragic death was relayed to Waterloo, the Forbes family received sympathy cards and the promise of a tree to be planted in their daughter's name in Algonquin Provincial Park, a famous wildlife Canadian landmark.
There is a tradition of tree-planting in the Park in memory of a loved one. A covering letter explained that her Canadian friends were so impressed by Arlene's lust for life and people that they had decided on this gesture. In addition, Arlene's parents have also been promised a memorial plaque done by a Canadian artist, again as a token of a valued friendship.
Back home in Enniskillen meant the opportunity to socialise with her boyfriend, Aidy, from week-ends away, going out for a meal or attending a concert. Then there were her other close friends, Catriona Collins, Joanne Murphy, and Kim among them. Joanne, in a letter composed after her death to Arlene's parents, recalled chats around the kitchen table, composing and performing dance routines and songs, and running the roads in 'Daisy', Joanne's car.
The overspill funeral Mass in St Michael's Church, Enniskillen was celebrated by Fr Owen Gorman who was assisted by Fr Fintan McKiernan, PP, Derrylin. The funeral arrangements were carried out by John McKeegan, Enniskillen.
Fr Gorman referred to the happiness that Arlene had brought into people's lives, and he described her as someone of great humour and a bubbly personality, someone who enjoyed a good laugh and who, through her wit, brought a smile to her many friends.
He said there was a great depth to her, she had a way with people and had a great love of children, not least her Godchildren, Anna (Crawford) and Grace (McGarry).
He told the congregation that God did not want something as cruel and cold as death to be the end. His resurrection meant that death was not the end, rather a prelude to a new and better life for His people. In this context, he recalled Arlene's brother, Darren.
In addition to Darren, Arlene was pre-deceased by Granny Crawford, Culkey. In addition to her parents, Dessie and Maura, she is survived by her grand aunt, Josephine (New York) and by her aunts and uncles, Kenneth, Mullylogan and by Frank and Emmet Crawford, Culkey and Valerie McManus, Derrylin.
