Emily Forsythe, 100, Manhattan
Emily M. Forsythe (nee Hollingsworth), age 100, of New Lenox, formerly of Manhattan, passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home on Wednesday, Dec. 18.
Emily is survived by her four sons: John (Sally) Forsythe, Patrick (Dorothy) Forsythe, Franklin J. (Sandy) Forsythe II, Daniel (Christine) Forsythe, daughter-in-law Jacqueline Forsythe; 8 grandsons, Micheal (Amy) Forsythe, Thomas (Laura) Forsythe, Jeffery (Shannon) Forsythe, Joseph (Christi) Forsythe, Paul (Kylie) Forsythe, Patrick (Laci) Forsythe Jr., Joshua (Sarah) Forsythe, Nicholas (Ashton) Forsythe; 8 granddaughters, Jacqueline (Chris) Gearman, Stephanie (Doug) Krueger, Sarah (Coley) O’Connell, Lindsey (Chris) Penwitt, Bridget (Liddy) Hope, Lisa (Corey) Dillon, Colette (Ryan) Walsh, Rebecca (Jared) Sikes, 26 great- grandsons, 24 great-granddaughters and 5 great-great grandsons, 4 great-great granddaughters, and her niece Anita Crouse.
Emily was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Stella Hollingsworth, her husband, Franklin J. Forsythe (2021), two sisters, Anita Smedley and Evelyn Hughes, and her son David Forsythe (2002).
Emily attended grade school and high school in Pleasanton, Kansas, and graduated from Mt. Carmel School of Nursing in 1946 in Pittsburg, Kansas.
Emily served in the Cadet Nursing Corp during WWII. In 1947, she moved to Joliet, where she and her husband Franklin were married at St. Mary’s church by Fr. Fabian Donlan (O’Carm) on Sept. 6, 1947.
Emily was employed at St. Joseph Hospital as a registered nurse; she was one of the eight nurses who cared for Bishop Blanchette during his final years.
Franklin and Emily established the Forsythe Funeral Home in 1949 in Manhattan, where she helped as a nurse with the Forsythe Ambulance Service and Funeral Business. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Manhattan, and served as a sacristan for 19 years and was eucharistic minister since 1965.
She taught CCD from first grade through high school and adult education classes as well. She also served on the diocesan CCW as chairman of the commission of family affairs. Emily was one of the first volunteer nurses in the beginning of Joliet Hospice Care and was a lifetime member of the Manhattan American Legion Auxiliary Post #935, and recently received her 75th year members pin.
One of her life’s highlights was personally meeting President James and Rosalynn Carter, and Pope John Paul II at the White House with her husband.
Emily enjoyed traveling to many countries, but loved to come home. She was proud of her sons and daughters-in-law, her grandchildren, her many great grandchildren and her great great grandchildren, all were the delight of her life.
Pall bearers will be her 8 granddaughters: Jacqueline Gearman, Stephanie Krueger, Sarah O’Connell, Bridget Hope, Colette Walsh, Lindsey Penwitt, Lisa Dillon and Rebecca Sikes.
Funeral services for Emily were held on Saturday, Dec. 21, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 255 W. North St., Manhattan, with a mass of Christian Burial.
Interment was held at St. Joseph Cemetery, Manhattan. Arrangements entrusted to Forsythe Gould Funeral Home, 507 S. State St., Manhattan, IL 60442, 815-478-3321, www.forsythegouldfh.com.