Obituary of Zora Kay Forneris

Zora (Zoe) Kay Forneris, 89 of Duluth, died peacefully on Thursday, November 30th at Edgewood Vista Memory Care in Hermantown, MN.

She was born on June 22, 1934 in Lomesa, Texas to Phyllis and Oleta Loggains. She met Henry (Del) Delmar Forneris while he was stationed in the Army at Fort Hood, Texas. They were married on November 5, 1950 in Lampasas, Texas and moved to Duluth, Minnesota where Zoe experienced snow and cold weather for the first time.

Zoe was very athletic at a young age and excelled in several different sports: Basketball, Track, Softball, Volleyball, Fast pitch, Curling and Golf. She held the distance record for the shot put at her high school for many years. Her Gopher Lounge volleyball team won many Local & Regional tournaments and they traveled to Hawaii for Nationals. Her C Z Wilson Softball team won the Minnesota State title 4 times.  You could always find her husband and 5 kids cheering her on from the bleachers while she played Softball and Volleyball. When she could no longer physically play sports she became an Official for the Minnesota & Wisconsin State High School League in girls volleyball.

Zoe had many careers, but she was best known for her cooking abilities. She worked at the Gopher restaurant, Tappa Keg Inn, and the Cozy restaurant in Carlton. She was a member of Pine Hill Lutheran church. She became a Cub Scout Den Mother for her 4 sons and many of the neighborhood boys. Zoe loved having tea parties with her grandchildren & great grandchildren. She found joy working in her vegetable and flower gardens.

She will be deeply missed by her husband of 73 yrs. Children: John (Nancy), David (Jill), Ronald (Susan), Della (Gary) Jenny.
grandchildren: Jeni (Rick), Cheri, John, Nick, Tony (Nicole), Kaden, Beckie and Mandy (Nick). 16 Great grandchildren and 1 Great-great grandchild. Many nieces and nephews, friends and her longtime dear friend Marge.


Zoe was preceded in death by her parents. Brothers: James Curwood Loggains and Christopher Gordon (Lynn) Loggains. Father and mother-in-law: Dominick and Jennie Forneris. Brothers-in-law: John (Elva) Forneris and Ronald (Jane) Forneris. Son: Donald Forneris and Grandson: Bradley Forneris.

The family would like to thank the staff from Edgewood Memory Care and Caring Edge Hospice for the wonderful and compassionate care they gave Zoe. A special thank you to Maricar, Jenae, Anthony, Alex, Anna, Janelle, Nicole, Cecilia, Kim, Makala, Jen and Veronica. 

Visitation from 9am until the 10am Memorial service on Saturday, January 13, 2024. Luncheon immediately following service at the Cremation Society of Minnesota, First Memorial Funeral Chapel 4100 Grand Avenue, Duluth, MN. 55807.