Diana J. Chervinko

CARBONDALE - Diana Josephine (Tinker) Chervinko died peacefully at home at 2:45 PM on October 25, 2025, surrounded by her family. She was born June 4, 1944 in Enid, Oklahoma, and grew up in Oklahoma City, where she attended Rosary Catholic Grade School and Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School. After high school she enrolled in Mount Saint Scholastica College in Atchison, Kansas, where she majored in English and minored in Spanish. She was involved in theater during college, and acted in several plays. A highlight of her time in college theater was winning “best supporting actress.” She later became involved in community theater.

Diana met her future husband, James (Jim) Chervinko, during her senior year at Mount Saint Scholastica. He was teaching German at neighboring Saint Benedict’s College in Atchison and first saw her on stage during a performance of “Good Morning, Miss Dove.” About a year later, they began courting and got married on June 10, 1967.

After brief educational stints in several towns around the Midwest, Diana and Jim settled in Carbondale in 1973. Diana worked in the Serials Department at Morris Library at Southern Illinois University until she retired in 1999.

Diana is survived by her husband Jim, their three children: Stephanie, JJ (Joseph John), and Michael (Daisy) and six grandchildren Ryan, Eric, Shelbie, Ethan (Lisa), Vio, and Hannah. Diana is also survived by her three younger sisters Julie Healy, Joyce (Bill) Poska, and Laura (Ed) Commander, and her nieces Tinker Duclo and Monica Ball and nephew Jeremiah Jacobs.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ama Joe and Mary Tinker, her brother in law Bob Healy, and her daughter in law Cheryl (Etherton) Chervinko.

Diana was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She enjoyed when out-of-state family would visit. She was a tremendous supporter of her family’s military service and deployments. She enthusiastically celebrated her children’s and grandchildren’s accomplishments in life, which ranged from swimming and Girl Scouts to graduations and marriages. She was very proud of all of these events, and much more.

Diana was a deeply creative soul with a talent for many crafts including, sewing, needlework, crochet, card-making, and rubber stamping. Later in life she became an avid beader and loved making jewelry. Diana was a voracious reader, always curious and open to new learning. She touched the world with her love and kindness. Diana lived a very rich and full life. She will be forever missed by her family and friends.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00am on Friday, October 31, 2025 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church with Father Joseph Brown officiating. Visitation will be from 10:30am until Mass on Friday at the church.

Memorials in Diana's name may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation and will be accepted at the church.

Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale is in charge of arrangements. To leave a memory or story of Diana, visit www.meredithfh.com.