Eleonore Forder was co-founder with husband Reg of American Christian Writers, launched in 1988

Eleonore Forder, co-founder of the American Christian Writers (ACW), died Jan. 24 at home in Nashville after being diagnosed with terminal cervical cancer last month.

“A hospice caregiver and I were with her when she passed,” said Reg Forder, her husband who co-founded ACW in 1988. “There was no struggle. She slipped away peacefully when she simply stopped breathing. We were married almost 30 years, and she was just a few days short of her 68th birthday.”

Two days after Christmas, Forder was diagnosed with cancer.

“They said it was so advanced that there was nothing they could do for her,” Reg said. “So they sent her home for myself and hospice to care for in her final three weeks. It happened that I took her to Florida for most of December, and told her I would give her a vacation she would always remember. We went on two cruises—she loved those—along with some other things she always considered special.”

Forder was referred to as the “First Lady” of the ACW conferences for the past 25 years.

“The ACW family grew into the thousands, and she loved every one of them,” said Reg, noting that ACW has chapters in 31 states and holds conferences nationwide.

Since the Forders have no family in Nashville, there will not be a funeral there, but will be a private service later this year in Canada, where most of their relatives live.

Reg will continue with ACW, but said it won’t be easy without his wife by his side.

“She was my princess,” he said.

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