Bridget L.

Forest

In Loving Memory of Bridget L. Forest

            Bridget L. Forest, born in February 1976, passed away peacefully at the age of 50 on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, surrounded by those who loved her. Bridget ferociously battled breast cancer for many years after her initial diagnoses late in 2018. She never let cancer, surgeries, ceaseless treatments and all the physical and emotional obstacles stop her from being a wonderful mother, wife, sister-in-law, friend, daughter-in-law and daughter. When asked how she was doing through it all, her answer was always the same: “I’m O.K.” followed quickly by “Taking things one day at a time.” Bridget never let cancer define her or stop her from enjoying life as much as she could. Once Bridget made up her mind there was very little that she wasn’t able to see past or overcome. All throughout her illness, with her family and friends she saw as much of the world and had as many wonderful experiences as she could: Broadway musicals, Acadia National Park, Phillies’ games, Girl Scout trips, St. Pete beach in Florida, the Dirty Dancing hotel, concerts and of course her beloved annual summer vacations to the Shore in North Wildwood, NJ.

            Bridget, an only child of Bruce and Jessie Lishman, grew up in Doylestown, PA and went to school from elementary to high school all within walking distance of her home. Bridget often reminisced about spending time with her loving grandparents, growing up in small house and playing on a quiet street in Doylestown Boro, summer camp adventures and summer vacations at the beach.

            After graduating from CB West High School, Bridget went on to college and graduated from St. Joseph’s University earning her first bachelor’s degree in elementary education and even returned to her elementary school to be a student teacher. Bridget moved to South Carolina and for a time and taught elementary school in North Charleston. Bridget returned home and went back to college and earned a second bachelor’s degree in nursing from Drexel University with a specialty in pediatric nursing. Bridget started her nursing career as a Registered Nurse at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. From there Bridget spent many years working long hours, many overnight, in the Emergency Room at Doylestown Hospital followed by her last 6 years working at St Luke’s Hospital in Bethlehem, PA. Bridget was a wonderful nurse where her life’s work was dedicated to taking care of others and she always took extra special care when she had the chance to take care of children. She worked through two pregnancies, COVID and cancer right up until a few months before she passed. Bridget’s work grounded her and she was so fortunate to find and become a member of wonderful loving family of nurses and medical professionals at both Doylestown and St. Luke’s Hospitals. Bridget had a knack for making friends everywhere she went and her friends and many members of her nurse family took care of her and were there for her at the end of her life. As much as Bridget loved her work, nursing came in a close second to her most important job of being a mom. Against formidable odds, Bridget chose a life of a loving mother and she put the raising of her children above all else.

            Bridget and her husband Matthew Forest (52) also from Doylestown, PA have known each other since attending high school together. After being acquaintances in high school, Bridget and Matthew did not see each other again for eleven years until bumping into each other one night in Doylestown in early August 2004. It took Matthew four days to call Bridget back, which was too many days according to Bridget, something Bridget never let Matthew forget! Matthew asked Bridget to marry him on the beach at E. 24th Ave in North Wildwood in 2007 and they were married in April, 2008 at the Doylestown Country Club.

            Together Bridget and Matthew raised two wonderful, kind, intelligent and hard-working children. Ethan (17) was born in 2009 and Ellie (15) in 2011. Both births were very rough on Bridget’s health and she endured without complaint. It just how she was.

            Bridget passed her love of books and reading to her children immediately after they were born. A gift her children will always have with them. Bridget put her elementary teacher skills to great use with Ethan and Ellie where they and Matthew learned the joy of arts and crafts, which decorated their home year-round. Bridget also started both of children on their musical journeys through piano lessons while the children were in elementary school. Ethan and Ellie have formed a love of music and are wonderful musicians playing in the Pennridge High School Marching Band and Indoor Percussion performance group.

            Following in her maternal Grandmother’s footsteps, Bridget formed and ran a Girl Scout Troop in her hometown for her daughter Ellie and which saw her girls from kindergarten Daisies all the way to Seniors. Troop #2763 went on many wonderful adventures, sold cookies, mums in the Fall and poinsettias in the Winter and most importantly formed everlasting bonds of friendship.

            Before Bridget’s illness she decided to become a runner, something she had not done before. She trained in the cold, the rain and summer heat often running before sunrise and before the rest of her family rolled out of bed. Bridget went on to run in several half-marathons in Philadelphia and Wildwood, NJ. She loved running and was so very proud of her accomplishments (though she would never tell anyone that).

            Bridget had the most beautiful smile, a smile that she passed along to both her children. Life always seemed better when Bridget smiled, made everyone around her smile and lifted all our spirits. We will all miss her smile but it will never be far, for when her children smile you will always see a bit of Bridget there.

            When you want to remember Bridget and smile, play some music from Dave Matthews Band, Bridget’s absolute favorite band who she saw live in concert more times than she could remember (she even got Matthew to a couple shows). When “The Song that Jane Likes” comes on you’ll know that Bridget is swaying and singing to the music right along with you.

            Services for Bridget will be private. In lieu of flowers please donate to For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation ( https://fpsrespite.org ); One Day to Remember ( www.onedaytoremember.org );  or to the American Cancer Society   ( https://www.cancer.org/ )

            Arrangements are by the Suess-Gahman Funeral Home & Crematory, 606 Arch Street, Perkasie, PA.