MARY ANNA FORSYTHE , (nee Kerekes), passed away at home surrounded by family and friends on January 25, 2025. She joins her late husband, David John Forsythe, already in the presence of the Lord. She was the loving mother of Jennifer and David Forsythe (Sheena) and adoring Grammy to granddaughter Kaydence; dear sister of Doris Kaehler (James) and Edward M. Kerekes (deceased) (Virginia); loving aunt to several nieces and nephews and 'pretend grandma' to many. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward P. and Helen I. Kerekes (nee Madura).

Mary's passions were the Church, teaching children, gardening and volunteering. She taught in the Cleveland Public Schools (mostly at Woodland Hills Elementary School) for 30 years and was in charge of Trinity Tutoring (part of Building Hope in the City) from 2001 to 2018 as a volunteer. She was also involved in many decades of teaching Sunday School at Concordia and then Trinity Lutheran Churches.

Her travels took her to every US state twice (except Alaska only once), to Cedar Point hundreds (if not thousands) of times, to numerous National Parks, and unapologetically to innumerable tourist traps.

In her community, she was a member of the Garfield Heights Women's Club and was still active with her Sorority Group from Fenn College/Cleveland State University (with a few extra ladies added in over the years).

Mary will be remembered for her constant smile, her love of the Lord and the people He put in her life, and her many gatherings each year that she hosted for family and friends (which always included potato chips!) in her home and at the farm.  Also of note was her disciplined diet and habits that helped her live 68 years with Type 1 diabetes with very few complications, all things considered, until recently.

If you prefer to make a donation in Mary's name in lieu of flowers, she requested we suggest Building Hope in the City or Truth For Life.

While a small gathering will be held for her church family at Trinity in mid-February, a Celebration of Life service and light refreshments will be hosted for all family and friends at Parkside Church, 7100 Pettibone Road, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023, on SATURDAY, MARCH 1, at 1:00 PM.