Virginia Fern Cheney - Online Memorial Website
Memorial Website - Virginia Fern Cheney
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 12, 2013, in the Chapel at Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, with Pastor Douglas Lightly officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church. Interment will be at Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria.
Virginia was born on November 15, 1919 in Tovey, the daughter of Leo and Clarice (LeRoux) Mohimont.
Blessed with movie star good looks, her life could read like a Dicken’s novel. She was born in the tiny coal mining town of Tovey, where she was raised by Belgium immigrant grandparents.
She graduated from Pana High School in 1938 and married her high school sweetheart, George Maxwell McClung, in Pana. He passed away on December 24, 1944, at the Battle of the Bulge, leaving behind two young sons. Virginia and George had lost one infant son, prior to his World War II tour of duty.
Virginia later married the “love of her life”, Wilbur “Red” Cheney in 1947 and moved to Maroa to raise two sons and twin daughters. They owned and operated the town’s only grocery store, Cheney’s Market.
As a family, we will remember mom as our very own June Cleaver of Leave It To Beaver, as she would start each and every morning with pressed dress, apron and lipstick, as she served dad fried eggs, bacon and buttered toast. Her true claim to fame was her pot roast, which she gladly shared with anyone who wanted to come to dinner, including most of the members of the 1957 Sweet Sixteen basketball team of Maroa High School.
After moving to Peoria, Virginia was employed at Bergner’s and Adams Ethan Allen Furniture Store. She volunteered at South Side Mission, American Red Cross, Proctor Hospital, RSVP, The Salvation Army and Grace Presbyterian Church. She was also a faithful election judge.
Her later years were spent at Bickford House and most recently, the Apostolic Christian Home of Eureka. Words can’t begin to describe the superior care and compassion given “Ginny” for the past two and a half years. Hopefully, she will be remembered in the long-term for her comedic comments and kisses, and in the short-term for her “French temper”. The true heroes in this world are those who work at the nursing home and loved her without exception.
Virginia is survived by twin daughters, Cathi Hawkinson of Peoria and Colleen (Gary) Jones of Dunlap; sons, Gary (Haven) McClung of Arlington Heights and Lonny (Audrey) McClung of Phoenix, AZ; eleven grandchildren; seventeen great grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren. They all truly loved and adored her.
She was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; son, George Mark McClung; and stepson, Warren Cheney.
Memorial contributions may be made in Virginia’s memory to the South Side Mission in Peoria.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Clary Funeral Home, 3004 West Lake Avenue, in Peoria.
| Hendrick Polanco | My deepest condolences | July 20, 2013 |
My deepest condolences. May these few words from the Holy Scriptures bring you comfort in your time of grief...
John 11:32-45
32 And so Mary, when she arrived where Jesus was and caught sight of him, fell at his feet, saying to him: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 Jesus, therefore, when he saw her weeping and the Jews that came with her weeping, groaned in the spirit and became troubled; 34 and he said: “Where have YOU laid him?” They said to him: “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus gave way to tears. 36 Therefore the Jews began to say: “See, what affection he used to have for him!” 37 But some of them said: “Was not this [man] that opened the eyes of the blind man able to prevent this one from dying?”
38 Hence Jesus, after groaning again within himself, came to the memorial tomb. It was, in fact, a cave, and a stone was lying against it.39 Jesus said: “TAKE the stone away.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to him: “Lord, by now he must smell, for it is four days.”40 Jesus said to her: “Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 Therefore they took the stone away. Now Jesus raised his eyes heavenward and said: “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 True, I knew that you always hear me; but on account of the crowd standing around I spoke, in order that they might believe that you sent me forth.” 43 And when he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice: “Laz´a·rus, come on out!” 44The [man] that had been dead came out with his feet and hands bound with wrappings, and his countenance was bound about with a cloth. Jesus said to them: “Loose him and let him go.”
45 Therefore many of the Jews that had come to Mary and that beheld what he did put faith in him;
Please go to the following link for more information regarding the Hope expressed in this passage
http://www.jw.org
| John Emerick | Loving memories | July 12, 2013 |
I was deeply saddened by the news of Virginia's passing. She was a beautiful lady, inside and out. As a kid, she always made me smile and feel like I was important. I was only around her on brief occasions, but remember them all. The last time was at Aunt Louise's funeral. I remember that she was so young looking, beautiful, and full of life. I will always remember her just that way...
Sincerely,
John Emerick
Pana, Illinois
| Marilyn (Thomas) Kauffman | Love and prayers | July 12, 2013 |
I was surprised to see your mother's obituary in the paper. Even though our parents are elderly, it's still hard to tell them goodbye, isn't it? But praise God, because of your mother's faith in Jesus Christ, we know where she is! I'm sorry I'm unable to attend her services, but I wanted you to know I'm thinking of you.
Love and prayers,
Marilyn (Thomas) Kauffman
| Carol Menold Zimmerman Turner | Loving Thoughts | July 12, 2013 |
I was just reading the Journal Star on line and suddenly saw the Cheney name that brought back some ole memories from Dunlap H.S. I can certainly see you gals in your Mommy's face!!
I am so sorry for you in the loss of your dear Mother - sharing your loss as I just my Mother last year, she was almost 90. Even though they are in the higher years and we are thankful to the Lord when He closes their eyes - it isn't easy when reality sinks in. So when we no longer have our precious Mother, we think back to all she did for us, taught us and sacrificed for us kids, and we cherish the precious memories.
Just reading here a bit - she lost her first love in WW II and two little boys - my heart aches for her. Her pain was beyond words. My Dad was in WW II and Mother said "no" to getting married before he left for Europe. But thankfully she found your Dad after her great loss - I know what deep pain she endured - I lost my first husband 21 yrs ago July 17th. It is very difficult to pull through and I share with your Mother. But the Lord provides - As He will for all of you as you say goodbye to your Dear Mother.
May many cherished memories comfort you and your kids -
Loving thoughts and prayers - memories - memories.
Carol Menold Zimmerman Turner (class of '66)
Pontiac IL 61764
czt5805@hotmail.com
| Connie & Mark Kumler | Sympathy | July 11, 2013 |
You have our sympathy,
Connie & Mark Kumler
(daughter of Jay & Irma Jean & sister to Karen)