Local woman celebrates 100th birthday doing what she loves

SAN MARCOS — Louella Forsyth has a passion. Born in Pennsylvania, she moved with her family as a young girl to Chicago, Ill. She married George Forsyth and they shared an ideal union, giving birth to a son and two daughters. However, when George passed 17 years ago, she threw herself into her second great love: acting. She has always been deeply involved in community theater.
On Aug. 15, Forsyth will turn 100, but remains active in a play readers’ group near her home in San Marcos. They rehearse weekly, and twice a month give performances in nursing homes. Forsyth said that even though not every resident is capable of expressing great pleasure, she feels certain that they have touched a chord deep within each listener. She not only performs, she also writes skits for the group, displaying an instinct for perfect timing.
Forsyth keeps active with rehearsals and performances of her play readers’ group, lives on her own in the home she shared with George since 1975, and plays in several weekly card games. And although she decided to relinquish her driver license at the age of 91, she calls upon friends to drive her to homes for battered women where she drops off carefully packaged bags of books for the ladies to read. For many years, Forsyth was a volunteer at the local hospital, bringing a smile and a comforting hand while working in the gift shop. She recently bemoaned the fact that she didn’t have the transportation means to volunteer more.
There will be a party celebrating Forsyth and her life at 4 p.m. Aug. 14, at the Casitas Del Amigos Clubhouse, located at 1195 La Moree Road in San Marcos.