Ernestine Juanita Ferreira Forcum

Ernestine was an incredible person in every way. Loving wife, mother, sister and friend to all she knew. The daughter of Mexican immigrants, she excelled in all her schoolwork at Marina Junior High and Washington High School in San Francisco. At Washington, she met the love of her life Glenn Forcum, and they were married at the age of 18. Their great marriage lasted for 61 years until Glenn passed away in November 2011. Glenn and Ernestine moved to Westlake in Daly City in 1955 and Millbrae in 1968, and raised three children, Mark, Karen, and Julie. Glenn, recognizing Ernestine’s great intelligence, was ahead of his time urging her to obtain her teaching credential and Master’s degree in Education at San Francisco State in the mid 1960’s. After obtaining those degrees, Ernestine had a career as a teacher at Parkside Middle School in San Bruno where she taught Spanish and at Belle Air Elementary where she became the first bilingual kindergarten teacher in San Bruno. In 1974, Ernestine became the first woman school principal at Belle Air since World War II. She loved her work serving the San Bruno Community until her retirement in 1996.

Ernestine is survived by her three children who surrounded her at the time of her passing. Mark R. Forcum, Karen R. Forcum and Julie Forcum-Plankensteiner, who she loved greatly. She always had a great interest in their lives, work, and daily activities. She is also survived by her son in law, James Rinehart, granddaughter Gabriele Rinehart, grandson Friedrich Plankensteiner, sister Sarita Barbour, and numerous cousins and extended family. She was predeceased by her parents Ernest and Sarah Ferreira.

Ernestine had a zest for life and enjoyed getting together with her family and lifelong friends.

Ernestine always maintained an positive attitude, which helped her survive cancer for twelve years. Our family would like to sincerely thank all of Ernestine’s remarkable doctors and nurses from Peninsula Hospital and Sutter Health Care including Dr. Whelan, Dr. Ekstrand, and Dr. Taira, and her palliative and hospice doctors and nurses who assisted her for the last seven months.

Ernestine’s funeral services were private. If you would like to donate in her name, any contribution to St. Jude’s Children’s Cancer hospital would be appreciated.