Loretta Y (Bellegarde) Forte , VRHS Class of 1956
Loretta Y. Forte, Rensselaer, 76, passed away peacefully at her home at Van Rensselaer Heights Senior Home on January 12, 2015. Loretta was born and grew up in Rensselaer and was the youngest daughter of Joseph and Jacoba Bellegarde. Loretta worked for the NYS Department of Labor and when she retired, she moved to Florida and worked for the South Miami Nursing home. She returned to the Rensselaer area after her husband Richie passed, and settled in the Van Rensselaer Heights Senior Citizen's Home. Loretta was a gifted artist, and she loved to sew, crochet and was an expert at word games. Loretta and her late sister Marge Horan were the official "Party and Event" planners at the home and every event that was planned was a guaranteed good time. Loretta was extremely outgoing and loved to entertain, and always had a story to tell. Loretta always had a meal and a bed to share, and she touched the lives of many, many people over the years. Memorial Day was the "special" time of the year at the house, where there was always a big party with lots of singing and the only voice you could hear was Loretta's. Survivors include her sister, Joanne Oliver; brother, retired Marine Lt. Colonel Joseph (Robin) Bellegarde; children, Seth (Ann) Hendrick, Yvonne Lee, Roxanne Forte; grandchildren, Joey, Eric, Kirk, Seth Robert, Samantha; three great- grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and cousins. She leaves her good friends the "Bowery Belles" who shared weekly lunches and many events and parties. Loretta was predeceased by her husband, Richie Forte; and her son, Mark Hendrick. A special thanks to her aid Eva, who made Loretta's last days extremely comfortable.