Theresa Joan Forget
November 20, 1939 – July 24, 2026

Theresa Joan Forget, née Allegro, passed away peacefully on July 24, 2026, following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 86 years old.

Theresa was born on November 20, 1939, in Brooklyn, New York, the youngest of four children. She grew up in a close-knit Italian family alongside her brothers, Geno and Bart, and her beloved sister, Rosemary. Family was always at the center of Theresa’s life, and she treasured both her family and her many friendships.

As a teenager, Theresa worked alongside her best friend, Vinny, in a Brooklyn pastry shop, where she not only solidified a lifelong friendship but also mastered the art of making cannoli.

Theresa and her sister, Rosemary, were exceptionally close and spoke on the phone nearly every day. She loved holidays, when the family gathered for food, Wiffle ball, card games, Family Feud—and more food. She was a wonderful cook, famous in the family for her chicken soup. Her stuffed mushrooms were equally famous, although perhaps not for the reasons she thought.

Theresa was also an accomplished athlete. She played basketball in high school and later coached the sport for many years. She was an excellent tennis player and remained active in the sport for several decades. In her later years, she took up bowling and continued to excel, recording scores over 200 many times after the age of 70. A passionate New York Yankees fan, she had a particular admiration for Joe DiMaggio.

Theresa married Thomas R. Forget on November 3, 1963. Together, they shared 53 years of marriage. They were devoted partners who raised their son, Thomas. They later delighted in watching their family grow and shared an especially deep love and devotion for their grandchildren.

Theresa was a wonderful mother and an extraordinary grandmother. She was devoted to her son and daughter-in-law and was actively involved in her grandchildren’s lives from the day they were born. She babysat often, spent countless hours in the Visitation and Priory pickup lines, took them everywhere, and cherished every opportunity to be with them. She loved her many nieces and nephews just as deeply, treating them as though they were her own children.

Theresa was loving, generous, intelligent, and extraordinarily friendly. She had a rare ability to talk to anyone about anything and make an immediate connection. People felt comfortable around her because her kindness was genuine. She made others feel welcome and at ease, and many who knew her described her simply as “the best person I know.”

A devout Catholic, Theresa attended Mass every Sunday throughout her life. Her faith was an important source of strength and a defining part of who she was.

Theresa was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Thomas R. Forget Sr.; her parents, Frank and Anna Allegro; and her brothers, Eugeneand BartholomewAllegro.

She is survived by her son, Thomas R. Forget Jr.; daughter-in-law, Nickole Hoffman Forget; grandchildren, Rosa, Thomas III, and Elizabeth; sister, Rosemary Mortillaro; and many beloved nieces, nephews, extended family members, and lifelong friends.

The final years of Theresa’s life were marked by the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s disease. The illness took much from her long before her death, but it did not define her. For the vast majority of her 86 years, Theresa was a loving wife, devoted mother and grandmother, faithful Catholic, loyal sister and friend, accomplished athlete, and genuinely good person.

As her beloved nephew Nicky said when he learned of her passing, “She was the best of us.”

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, October 2, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home in Creve Coeur, Missouri. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, October 3, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anselm Catholic Church in St. Louis, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital in Theresa’s memory, designated to support Alzheimer’s disease research and caregiver education.

Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home
www.osfuneralhomes.com