Art Cowan asked a simple question: would anyone in attendance please stand if they were delivered by Edith Forbes.

More stood than sat.

“Today, we remember Edith Forbes who brought so many into the world (more than 600). We are here to honour her family in general, we thank them for coming home,” Hartney Mayor Bruce Evans said.
Edith's sons, Jim and Ellis were on hand for the unveiling of a special memorial in their mother's honour.

Edith was born in London and became a nurse before coming to Canada in 1872.

Edith met James Forbes and operated a care facility in Hartney from 1925 to 1950.

“Babies don't come into the world between 9 and 5 ‑— they come at all hours of the day and night — mom kept all kinds of hours,” Ellis said.

Ellis said his mother was a stickler for privacy. She told her sons to keep quiet about who was at the nursing home.

“She'd tell us stuff at dinner. She told us of woman who had just given birth to her eighth child. The woman told Mrs. Forbes she had once wanted to become a nun. Mom said in an understated voice, ‘it's too late now.'”

“Father lost the use of his left hand and foot from polio but this didn't deter him from trying various careers. He tried farming, then went to college and later he worked at the post office,” said Ellis.
Jim Forbes said despite the tough economic times, hard work carried the family through.

“Mom said the fee for a 10-day stay for mother and baby was $15. During the war we all had ration coupons ‑ there was sometimes a short supply of these in our house but mother always found a way to get by.” he said.

Jim also paid tribute to his dad. Being paralyzed on his left side didn't hold him back. He said when his mom was busy with an operation or delivery his dad made meals.

“Dad was also dedicated to his job at the post office. He met the train with the mail everyday on his horse “Fly.”

Jim also remembers there was often the odor of ether in their house and they'd know some kind of operation was in progress.

“It was just a fact of life in our home,” he said.

Jean Agnew, formerly of Hartney spoke highly of Mrs. Forbes.

Mrs. Forbes always maintained babies should be content as long as they are full and dry,” said Agnew.

As far as she knows, Agnew says her son, Gord was the last baby Mrs. Forbes delivered in April 1951.

“She seemed to have slipped out of town before we realized it. It was my privilege to have known and loved this angel of mercy - our dear Mrs. Forbes.”

After the death of her husband James in 1950, Edith moved to British Columbia to be close to her only brother. She continued her career in nursing and finally retired at the age of 80. She died in 1970 and is buried next to her husband James in the Hartney Cemetery.