Carrie A. Forfinski, age 48 of Farwell, passed away Saturday, February 8, 2025 following a long and courageous battle with cancer. Carrie was born May 14, 1976 in Saginaw to David and Janet (Pickens) Jerome. She was united in marriage to Corey Forfinski on September 20, 1997.
Carrie was an integral part of Farwell elementary and touched the lives of the entire staff and so many students. Carrie was an original founding teacher of the Farwell elementary preschool. She taught at Farwell since 2010 and was a first grade teacher since 2013. During her time at Farwell elementary, Carrie was involved in countless initiatives and activities. She dedicated many hours of time to writing the social studies curriculum, initiated the Behavior Intervention Team, and taught in the SPARKS program. She was the lead coach for Lego League, an Odyssey of the Mind coach, a member of multiple committees and participated in all of the parent engagement events. Carrie instilled in her students a drive to work hard, to find solutions, to use reasoning, and to think outside of the box. Carrie’s efforts to create thinkers led to her being named the MiSTEM Regional recipient of the 2025 STEM STAR award.
Each year, Carrie facilitated a pet food drive for the local animal shelter. On many occasions, Carrie coordinated food drives for wild animals, including collecting hundreds of pounds of acorns, and delivered those goods to the animal recovery center in Saint Helen, Michigan.
Carrie was an avid advocate for all things, especially her students. Carrie knew her students inside and out and worked tirelessly to ensure that each had the things they needed to feel safe, healthy, and supported. Carrie was so much more than a teacher.
She was a member of the Michigan Air National Guard from 1996 to 2004, where she served in Battle Creek alongside her father and brother. Carrie played an integral role in constructing the board of service members displayed in the Jaime Performing Arts Center.
Her children fondly remember her being their Little League coach in Farwell and Sunday School teacher at Brown Corners United Brethren Church. She loved traveling and always advocated for her children to do more of it. Carrie enjoyed documenting their activities and travels in the scrapbooks she lovingly made for them.
Carrie is survived by her husband Corey; children Clay (Fiancé Elise Birkhaeuser) Forfinski of Pensacola, Fl., Cole (Haedyn) Forfinski of Grand Haven and Madison Forfinski of Farwell; her parents David Jerome of Pinconning and Janet (John) Kroon of Midland; her brother Jeff (Kim) Jerome of Bay City and their children Ethan, Nick, Alex, Kohl, Luke and Aubry; her father and mother-in-law Kenneth and Kerri Forfinski of Farwell; brother-in-laws Nick (Jason) Sarkozi of Mt. Pleasant, and Travis (Mandy) Forfinski of Pickford and their children Garrett and Hudson. Visitation and Services will be held at the Farwell Chapel of Stephenson-Wyman Funeral Home. Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 13, 2025 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 P.M. Services will be held on Friday, February 14, 2025 at 11 A.M. with Pastor Paul C. Fetzer officiating. A luncheon will be held after the service at Mott’s Up North Wedding and Event Venue. Memorial contributions at suggested to the Farwell Area School’s Lego League or the clothing closet at the elementary school. Checks may be made payable to Farwell Area Schools; please memo Lego League or clothing closet. Online condolences may be left at www.stephenson-wyman.com
