Darlene Cherveny

Darlene Jean Cherveny

Age 78 of Wilmington, passed away Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at Rosewood Care Center in Joliet, Illinois.

Born March 3, 1941 at home in Wilmington, Illinois, Darlene Jean was a daughter of John J. and Lillian M. (Wallace) Baber. She was raised and educated in Wilmington and graduated from Wilmington High School with the Class of 1959. On May 27, 1961, Darlene married George “Duke” Cherveny, and together they made their home and raised their family in Wilmington.

Darlene worked as a clerk at Hunt’s Pharmacy in Wilmington before gaining employment at St. Rose School and later as a secretary and bus driver at Providence Catholic High School. She was an active member of St. Rose Catholic Church in Wilmington, where she was involved with the CCW; was honored to have been named Woman of the Year, and regularly volunteered at Kuzma Care Cottage.

A collector at heart, Darlene in her free time enjoyed cooking, baking and caring for her plants. Together she and Duke took pleasure in traveling, and together shared many wonderful memories at their cabin on Roberts Lake in Wisconsin. Darlene loved playing cards and games, and was always up to following family and friends on Facebook. Among her vast hobbies, none was greater than family, and Darlene cherished spending time with her grandchildren.  A wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Darlene leaves behind a collection of memories for her family to treasure for generations to come.

Survivors include her husband George “Duke”; three sons: Stephen (Mary) Cherveny of Cary, Illinois, Kevin (Brenda) Cherveny of Wilmington, Illinois and Matthew (Melissa) Cherveny of Lima, Ohio; (11) grandchildren: Matthew, Jr. (Brittany) Cherveny of Dayton, Ohio, Cassandra (Andrew) Jain of Bolingbrook, Illinois, Marc (Amanda) Cherveny of Troy, Ohio, Alexandra Cherveny (fiancé, Erik Schad) of Evanston, Illinois, Karleigh Cherveny of Bartlett, Illinois, Delaney Cherveny of Chicago, Illinois, Nate Cherveny of St. Mary’s, Ohio, Margaret Cherveny of Cary, Illinois, and Clay Cherveny, Hayden Martin and Harper Martin, all of Lima, Ohio; one great granddaughter, Emilia Jain; one sister-in-law, Mary Ellen Tea of Shorewood, Illinois and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, as well as her special cat, Stinky.

Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, John and Lillian Baber; one grandson, Kevin Cherveny, II, daughter-in-law, Jennifer (Yackly) Cherveny, and two brothers-in-law: John Cherveny, Jr. and Richard Tea.

The family will receive friends for a visitation on Sunday, April 28, 2019 at Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 East Kahler Road in Wilmington between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Funeral services will follow Monday morning, April 29, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Rose Catholic Church, 604 S. Kankakee Street in Wilmington. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated with Reverend Sebastian Gargol presiding.

Burial will be in Oakwood-Sunset Cemetery in Wilmington, Illinois.

Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be:  Matthew Cherveny, Jr., Cassandra Jain, Marc Cherveny, Alexandra Cherveny, Karleigh Cherveny, Delaney Cherveny, Nate Cherveny, Margaret Cherveny, Clay Cherveny, Hayden Martin and Harper Martin.

Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in Darlene’s memory to Kuzma Care Cottage, 635 S. Main Street, Wilmington, IL 60481

Family and friends may sign the guest book, upload photographs or share Darlene’s memorial page online by logging onto: www.BaskervilleFuneral.com/notices/Darlene-Cherveny

Funeral services and arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Baskerville Funeral Home in Wilmington. (815-476-2181)