Anita Marie Errecarte Arce Forster, a lifelong resident of San Juan Capistrano with deep historical family roots, was born on September 16, 1937 and was reunited with her beloved husband Mickey in heaven on January 3, 2019. She lived 81 wonderful years touching everyone she met.
Anita was the second of Floyd Arce’s and Julia Errecarte’s three daughters. She grew up in a love filled little house up the hill on San Juan Capistrano’s historical Don Juan Avenue. She attended K-8th grade at the Old Mission Grade School and high school at the old Capistrano Union High School before earning an AA degree at Orange Coast College between her shifts at her family’s business, Floyd’s Drive-In. After college, she worked in the administration department of San Diego Gas & Electric in San Clemente before retiring to become the best full-time mom a family could ever want.
Growing up, Anita had a built-in connection to the local Forster Family. Her aunt had married a Forster before she was born, and the house she grew up in was just a few doors down from the Forster house at the top of Don Juan Avenue. The families enjoyed many get-togethers over the years before and after she was born. Little did she know that after meeting and growing up with her childhood best friend Mickey Forster, they would become husband and wife, create a wonderful family and enjoy a special bond of lifetime love and support. They were married in 1956 in the Old Mission St. Serra Chapel and their union grew deep and strong caring for each other while raising a family of 2 boys and 2 girls. When the children were a little older, the family would always look forward to the adventure of traveling to new places with the Californian Camper Club every month. Anita and Mickey loved their family dearly and succeeded in making it a priority to ensure everyone was taken care of. It was clear to all those who knew her, Anita deeply cherished her marriage, family and friends.
Anita was a fierce LA Lakers fan with unwavering support for her team even though the last few years were tough. Anita also really loved to be around people. She was a very good card player who once won a Las Vegas Black Jack tournament proudly proclaiming victory over “all those men” at the final table. She also loved playing poker, sometimes playing late into the night and early morning with her weekly gang of local card lovers that would sometimes include her childhood friend, an Orange County Sheriff – after all, what better protection of the game than having law enforcement at the table. And God help you if she ever caught you cheating at cards – think old west gun fights at saloon poker tables over the lack of integrity!
Anita was one of the special “old-timers” in San Juan Capistrano with deep family roots and history in the town she spent her entire life in. She had a huge heart and kind soul. She was a throwback to a simpler time with guiding principles of honesty, integrity and keeping your word. And she definitely had no problem telling it like it is whether you liked it or not!
Anita was preceded in death by her beloved husband, best friend and eternal soulmate Mickey Forster. She leaves behind many local old-time San Juan Capistrano friends and family members that she adored, and adored her, including her sons Michael Forster, Robert Forster and wife Kathy and their children MacKenzie, Kaitlyn and RJ, daughters Roberta Forster and partner Laura Dowdy and Michele Forster and her son Joshua.
Wonderful, loving memories of Anita’s life and her eternal reunion with her beloved Mickey, will be celebrated with a mass at The Old Mission San Juan Capistrano’s St. Serra Chapel on January 18, 2019, at 10:00 am. Anita will be laid to rest alongside her beloved Mickey at Ascension Cemetery in El Toro.
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to Graceland Hospice Care at 360 W. Cerritos Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92805.
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