Obituary for Gregoria F. Fortin
Gregoria Fortin, age 94, died at home in Oak Harbor after a sudden but brief illness. Born March 11, 1929 in San Felipe, Zambales, Philippines to Luisa and Ignacio Firme, a local farmer and politician.
She married Honorio Fortin in December 1949. They had three sons in the Philippines. When her husband joined the US Navy, they moved to Alameda, California (1963) then to Oak Harbor (1964) where her husband’s ship, the USS Salisbury Sound was stationed. They loved Oak Harbor so much they decided to stay.
Gregoria received her Licensed Practical Nurse Certificate through Skagit Valley College. She worked in various places as an LPN until her retirement. She and husband enjoyed clubbing and dancing as a young couple and still loved to dance when they were older. They were widely known for their dance moves. She always enjoyed playing bingo.
Gregoria was a beloved grandmother, mother, auntie, sister and friend to many. She always had a house full of family and friends around her. She often went fishing, clamming and crabbing with her husband. She was a choir member of St. Augustine Catholic Church and was devoted to God. She was also one of the founding members of the Fil-Am Association.
Of her 11 siblings she is survived by Fe (Alfonso) Mago, Alfredo (Nena) Firme, and Federico (Lisa) Firme. She leaves behind three sons, Rolly Fortin (Dana) of Oak Harbor, WA, Ernesto Fortin (spouse Larry Buchanan) of Desert Hot Springs, CA, and Honorio Fortin, Jr. (Susan Cali) of Oak Harbor, WA. She is also survived by her grandchildren. They include Emily Fortin (Cornell Whiten), Damon Cali, Tamara (Daryn) Ingram, Michelle Rocha, Nicole Moore-Ruze, and James Fortin. Her great grandchildren include Asjia Fortin, Jasper Ingram, Seth Ingram, and Tiffany Ingram. She is also survived by her niece Debi Fortin (Art Griffith), whom she thought of as a daughter.
Gregoria’s Catholic Funeral Mass will be held at St. Augustine's on Thursday July 20th at 11:00am with a reception to follow at the parish's reception hall.
She married Honorio Fortin in December 1949. They had three sons in the Philippines. When her husband joined the US Navy, they moved to Alameda, California (1963) then to Oak Harbor (1964) where her husband’s ship, the USS Salisbury Sound was stationed. They loved Oak Harbor so much they decided to stay.
Gregoria received her Licensed Practical Nurse Certificate through Skagit Valley College. She worked in various places as an LPN until her retirement. She and husband enjoyed clubbing and dancing as a young couple and still loved to dance when they were older. They were widely known for their dance moves. She always enjoyed playing bingo.
Gregoria was a beloved grandmother, mother, auntie, sister and friend to many. She always had a house full of family and friends around her. She often went fishing, clamming and crabbing with her husband. She was a choir member of St. Augustine Catholic Church and was devoted to God. She was also one of the founding members of the Fil-Am Association.
Of her 11 siblings she is survived by Fe (Alfonso) Mago, Alfredo (Nena) Firme, and Federico (Lisa) Firme. She leaves behind three sons, Rolly Fortin (Dana) of Oak Harbor, WA, Ernesto Fortin (spouse Larry Buchanan) of Desert Hot Springs, CA, and Honorio Fortin, Jr. (Susan Cali) of Oak Harbor, WA. She is also survived by her grandchildren. They include Emily Fortin (Cornell Whiten), Damon Cali, Tamara (Daryn) Ingram, Michelle Rocha, Nicole Moore-Ruze, and James Fortin. Her great grandchildren include Asjia Fortin, Jasper Ingram, Seth Ingram, and Tiffany Ingram. She is also survived by her niece Debi Fortin (Art Griffith), whom she thought of as a daughter.
Gregoria’s Catholic Funeral Mass will be held at St. Augustine's on Thursday July 20th at 11:00am with a reception to follow at the parish's reception hall.