Obituary for Elias Nathaniel Forrester
Reflection on the Life of Elias Nathaniel Forrester
On Tuesday December 13, 2022 Elias Forrester passed away at the age of 67, days before his December
31 st birthdate. Elias, also known as Wendell, Micey, Eli, and Forrester, was born in Clarendon, Jamaica to
proud parents Inez and Elias. He was the first boy following sisters Roberta (Trevor) and Sonia (Earle).
Inez’s family later grew by two more boys, Winton (Sandra) and Howard. Wendell (as he is affectionately
called by his Mom) described himself as small built boy when compared to his peers but was very
curious and became knowledgeable beyond his years. Micey attended Tweedside Primary School and
then Frankfield High School. Elias always had an interest in education and a desire to give back to his
community. This led him to teach at Spaulding Primary School for a year after completing high school.
Also known for his love of the sciences, Wendell left Tweedside to pursue a degree in pharmacy at the
prestigious College of Art Science and Technology (now University of Technology) in Kingston, Jamaica.
After CAST, Elias worked with Sterling Drugs International in the production of pharmaceuticals, spent
another few years at Meade Johnson (now Johnson and Johnson) and then became a production
Supervisor at Tanners Jamaica Limited.
He moved to United States of America and settled in the Windy City. Chicago was to be his home for the
next 30 plus years. Possessing a very versatile personality and being a quick learner, he spent a few
years working in a recycling plant and then in the courier industry for the rest of his working years. Elias
had many hobbies. Probably chief among them was his love for horses; training them, caring for them,
racing and betting on them. He always shared stories of his many adventures with the horses. He was
knowledgeable about most things and about how things work. He was an avid do- it-yourselfer; he could
fix anything. He was Google maps personified. Anywhere you wanted to go in Chicagoland he knew the
directions and would even supply accurate landmarks. He knew the value of a good education and used
his resources to influence any young person around him to learn as much as they can. Elias was a free
spirit and lived his life on his terms. He was best known for his intelligence, humor, adventurous stories,
determination, love and generosity.
Elias is survived by his mother, children: Cornelia (Richard), Latoya (Mike), Dave (Lori), Shelly-ann
(Adrian). Grandchildren: Mikeal, Marie, Amare, Leila, Dani’el, Mason and Abigail. Sisters, brothers, a
host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and close friends. He is preceded in death by his father Elias and
adopted brother Bunny.
He will be missed! May his legacy lives on and his soul rest in peace.
I’m Free
Don’t grieve for me. For now I’m free.
I’m following the path God laid for me.
I took his hand when I heard him call.
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day, to laugh, to love, to work or play.
Work left undone must stay that way.
I found God’s peace at the close of the day.
If my parting has left a void, please fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss
Ah, yes, these things I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow,
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life’s has been full, I savored much,
Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and share with me,
God wanted me now.
He set me free.
Acknowledgements
The family of Elias Nathaniel Forrester would like to thank you in advance and express their humble
appreciation for the love, prayers, kind words and support during our time of bereavement.
On Tuesday December 13, 2022 Elias Forrester passed away at the age of 67, days before his December
31 st birthdate. Elias, also known as Wendell, Micey, Eli, and Forrester, was born in Clarendon, Jamaica to
proud parents Inez and Elias. He was the first boy following sisters Roberta (Trevor) and Sonia (Earle).
Inez’s family later grew by two more boys, Winton (Sandra) and Howard. Wendell (as he is affectionately
called by his Mom) described himself as small built boy when compared to his peers but was very
curious and became knowledgeable beyond his years. Micey attended Tweedside Primary School and
then Frankfield High School. Elias always had an interest in education and a desire to give back to his
community. This led him to teach at Spaulding Primary School for a year after completing high school.
Also known for his love of the sciences, Wendell left Tweedside to pursue a degree in pharmacy at the
prestigious College of Art Science and Technology (now University of Technology) in Kingston, Jamaica.
After CAST, Elias worked with Sterling Drugs International in the production of pharmaceuticals, spent
another few years at Meade Johnson (now Johnson and Johnson) and then became a production
Supervisor at Tanners Jamaica Limited.
He moved to United States of America and settled in the Windy City. Chicago was to be his home for the
next 30 plus years. Possessing a very versatile personality and being a quick learner, he spent a few
years working in a recycling plant and then in the courier industry for the rest of his working years. Elias
had many hobbies. Probably chief among them was his love for horses; training them, caring for them,
racing and betting on them. He always shared stories of his many adventures with the horses. He was
knowledgeable about most things and about how things work. He was an avid do- it-yourselfer; he could
fix anything. He was Google maps personified. Anywhere you wanted to go in Chicagoland he knew the
directions and would even supply accurate landmarks. He knew the value of a good education and used
his resources to influence any young person around him to learn as much as they can. Elias was a free
spirit and lived his life on his terms. He was best known for his intelligence, humor, adventurous stories,
determination, love and generosity.
Elias is survived by his mother, children: Cornelia (Richard), Latoya (Mike), Dave (Lori), Shelly-ann
(Adrian). Grandchildren: Mikeal, Marie, Amare, Leila, Dani’el, Mason and Abigail. Sisters, brothers, a
host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and close friends. He is preceded in death by his father Elias and
adopted brother Bunny.
He will be missed! May his legacy lives on and his soul rest in peace.
I’m Free
Don’t grieve for me. For now I’m free.
I’m following the path God laid for me.
I took his hand when I heard him call.
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day, to laugh, to love, to work or play.
Work left undone must stay that way.
I found God’s peace at the close of the day.
If my parting has left a void, please fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss
Ah, yes, these things I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow,
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life’s has been full, I savored much,
Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and share with me,
God wanted me now.
He set me free.
Acknowledgements
The family of Elias Nathaniel Forrester would like to thank you in advance and express their humble
appreciation for the love, prayers, kind words and support during our time of bereavement.