Delane Forsythe
Mascoutah | Save
Delane Ann Forsythe, 67, of Mascoutah, Illinois, died at her home — a place that brought her much peace and comfort — on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026.
She was born March 24, 1959, in East St. Louis, Illinois. She grew up in Caseyville and attended Collinsville High School, where she met the love of her life, Jeffrey Wayne Forsythe, Sr.
A daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin, friend and cat lover, Delane found pleasure in the little things: watching the sunset on her beautiful property in Mascoutah, tending to her yard, baking chocolate chip cookies, decorating the house for holidays (her favorite was Halloween), gathering with family and friends, taking long naps and hot baths, and getting all dressed up in a new outfit.
Delane had a passion for caring for others and spent more than 41 years working as a nurse. For decades, she worked as an overnight nurse in the ICU at Memorial Hospital in Belleville. She then became a hospice nurse.
She held an associate’s degree from Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville and a bachelor’s degree from McKendree University. A lifelong learner, Delane had planned to further her education and help even more patients as a nurse practitioner.
She was semi-retired but still enjoyed working part-time. She most recently worked as an instructor at Applied Tech Practical Nursing in St. Louis, Missouri.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Jeff, and their infant daughter, Clarissa Michelle Forsythe, as well as her parents, Jerry and LeeAnn Grimont.
Delane (Grimont) Forsythe is survived by: her children, Thomas Edward Forsythe of Lancaster, New York, and Jeffrey Wayne (Jamie) Forsythe, Jr. of Nixa, Missouri; her grandchildren, Haiden, Thalia, Tessa and Zophia; her siblings, Katie (Craig) Heaton of Elsah, Illinois, and Eugene (Robin) Grimont of Lenzburg, Illinois; an aunt, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, dear friends and neighbors.
She is also survived by many feline friends, including Gabe and Clarence, whom she cared for both inside and outside of her home.
A deeply spiritual person, Delane had connections to Holy Childhood Catholic Church in Mascoutah and Christ United Church of Christ in Belleville.
Per her wishes, Delane was cremated.
Please do not send flowers or plants. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be donated to Treehouse Wildlife Center in Dow, Illinois.
Kassly Mortuary, Ltd.
