In Memory of my Sister Ferne McGrath (Bastian) Ferne was born in Bethlehem, Pa. on February 23, 1957. She grew up in Promisedland, Pa. I have fond memories of having her as a big sister. I remember her taking us (Billy, Barb and I) swimming, on picnics and having pillow fights at night in the dark and many other things. In her teen years she worked in the store for our parents Wilbur and Betty Ann Bastian after school and in the summer. She also spent a lot of time babysitting her younger sisters and brother. Ferne made lots of friends many of whom she was still friends with when she passed. She graduated high school in 1975 along with our brother Bobby. Mature beyond her years, she stayed at the store to help the new owners for a year after the rest of us moved to Canada in 1976. She came to live in Canada after that for a very short time. Ferne then moved to Quakertown and lived with my Aunt Annette and Uncle Lenny and my cousins Leslie and Timothy. In July of 1979 Ferne married her best friend Joseph Cary. The marriage didn’t last but the friendship would last for the rest of her life as would her relationship with her Sister-in-law Phy. She would also remain Aunt Ferne to Phy’s kids Christopher and Nicholas. Ferne married Randy McGrath in May 1997 in Promisedland. They were inseparable and shared many interests including photography. They came to Canada a couple times of year to visit all of us. We all came together as a family when Ferne was here. She loved when we all got together to do stuff and just hang out. Ferne dearly loved her nieces and nephews in Canada (Danielle, Robbie, Emma, Becky, Markie, Sarah, Kaelyn and Allan. Her love knew no bounds and it didn’t stop at her love for the people in her life. Ferne gave haven to many animals during her time here on earth. She had an especially soft spot for Old English Sheepdogs. The last few years after her original battle with pancreatic cancer they came more often, for holidays, weddings and even a baby shower. I became very grateful for video chat, that was the only time I saw her after Covid started and the border closed. We video chatted a lot when I babysat my granddaughter, her great niece whom she adored. I am feeling very blessed for the three of us to have had that time. Ferne’s last days seemed to have come unexpectedly and my heart was not ready for what was to come. There is comfort in knowing that even though I couldn’t be there by her side some of the people she loved most in this world were there to help her and comfort her. Ferne was survived by her husband Randy McGrath, Mother Betty Ann Bastian, her siblings Sandra Kominsky, Bobby Bastian and Debbie, Brenda Edwards, Bill Bastian and Ruth, Barbara Desjardine and Rick, many nieces, nephews, great nieces, a great nephew, Aunts, Uncles and cousins. Ferne left a legacy of love and friendship. Her memory will be kept alive in our hearts, until we meet again.