Delores J. Paley of 823 S. 36th Street, Quincy, Illinois, formerly of Lake Forest, Illinois, died peacefully at home on May 30, 2025.

She was born March 19,1926 in Flanagan, Illinois, the daughter of Almon and Vera Bertsche. She married Arthur J. Paley on November 1, 1947. He preceded her in death on May 12, 1986. They had one daughter, JoAnn McLaughlin (Quincy, Illinois). She survives.

Delores graduated from Flanagan High School in 1944. She completed Business School in Champaign, Illinois in 1945. She worked for the Illinois Department of Public Health in Springfield until moving to Lake Forest with her husband in 1950. Delores held secretarial positions at the Lake Forest Recreation Department, the Lake Forest Travel Bureau, and then in 1973 began a career of over 20 years as an administrative assistant in the trust department of the First National Bank of Lake Forest, which later became Northern Trust Bank. She retired in 1997 and relocated to Quincy, Illinois to be near her daughter.

Delores was a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest. She was an avid supporter of the Quincy Community Theater and Quincy Symphony Orchestra. She had a lifelong love of reading and was always happiest with a book by her side. Delores enjoyed the friendships she forged through the YMCA, with their exercise and swim programs. One of her favorite activities after retirement was traveling with her daughter to almost every region of the United States. Delores was an animal lover and felt blessed to have the company of her two rescue cats, Molly and Zoe, for 19 years.

In addition to her daughter, survivors include one sister, Emily (Richard) Amstutz of Lakewood, Colorado and two brothers, Hilary Bertsche of Goshen, Indiana and John (Pat) Bertsche of Olathe, Kansas, and 16 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, three sisters, Galene Huffman, Maxine Koopman, Thelma Kane, one brother, Ron Bertsche, and two nephews, Jim Kane and David Bertsche, and her son-in-law, Daniel McLaughlin.

There will be no visitation. Graveside services will be held at Lake Forest Cemetery in Lake Forest, Illinois.

My mother and I would like to express our profound gratitude to the entire BC Caregiving team for their compassionate and exceptional care over the years, especially during the last three months. They are an amazing and special group of women.

We would also like to thank the Blessing Hospital hospice staff for their comfort and guidance in leading us on mom’s final journey.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest, Illinois, the Quincy Humane Society, or the Quincy Public Library. The Duker & Haugh Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.