Darlene Sackett
Alton |
Darlene Sackett, 94, passed away on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in her apartment at Cedarhurst of Godfrey. She was born on November 15, 1929, in Chicago, IL and was followed closely by her identical twin sister, Eilene. Darlene and Eilene joined older sister Betty, and brother, Charles. Their parents Clyde and Minnie (Rollings) Taylor were thrilled to have twins but faced difficult times weathering the Great Depression with four young children. They moved around southern Illinois and Kentucky eventually settling in Alton where all four children attended Alton High School.
Darlene met the “love of her life”, Byron Sackett at Southern Illinois University - Carbondale where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Her first teaching job was at Milton Elementary in Alton. The couple lived in Collinsville, Chicago and Rolling Meadows, Illinois before returning to Alton to live near family. Darlene again worked for Alton Public Schools finishing her 35-year career at Gilson Brown School.
While raising a family, daughter, Debbie and son, Richard, Darlene obtained her master’s degree in Elementary Education from Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville. Both children attended Alton High School like their mother. Daughter Debbie followed in her mother’s footsteps attending SIU-C and becoming a teacher.
Darlene and her twin, Eilene, were weekly volunteers at the Oasis Women’s Center and their thrift shop. They started when the center opened in 1978 and continued volunteering there for 35 years. Most often they scheduled overlapping shifts so they could spend their Sunday evenings together.
Darlene is survived by her daughter, Deborah Sackett of Portland, Oregon and son, Richard Sackett of Alton. She has two grandsons in Portland, Jamie and Kieran Moylan. Her older sister, Betty Taylor, niece Sherry Greening and nephew, Glenn Greening all live in Eugene, Oregon. She is very close with her twin sister’s daughters Jo Gammage, Sandy Rhodes, Nancy Aud and Cathy Elfgen who all live the in area. She also has a niece and nephew in Decatur, Illinois, Brenda Wilson and Bobby Taylor and a nephew in Arizona, Alan Taylor. In addition, she has numerous grand and great grand nieces and nephews in Illinois, Missouri and Oregon.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clyde and Minnie; husband, Byron; and sister, Eilene.
A graveside service will be held on Thursday, July 18, 2024, at 10 a.m. at Upper Alton Cemetery. Burial will follow.
Memorials are suggested to 5A’s Animal Shelter or Oasis Women’s Center.
Online condolences and guestbook may be found at www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com.
Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home
