Hazel Chinski

Hazel Viola Chinski, 98, of Bourbonnais, passed away peacefully, at her home, Saturday (Aug. 19, 2023).

She was born Nov. 24, 1924, in Ganeer Township, the daughter of John and Mabel (Sommer) Morris.

Hazel attended Herscher High School. She earned her GED in 1994 at age 69.

She married Robert "Bob" J. Chinski on March 27, 1949, at Herscher Methodist Church. He preceded her in death April 2, 2022, at age 99. They had been married 73 years.

Hazel worked in a defense plant at Cadillac Motors in Detroit, Mich., as a "Rosie the Riveter" during World War II. She had also worked at Bear Brand Hosiery and Domestic Laundry, Kankakee, and Central Community School District 4 for 30 years as a bus driver.

She was a Four Corners 4-H leader and a Boy Scouts Troop 324 Den Mother; and enjoyed sewing and crocheting.

Hazel was a 73-year member of Wesley United Methodist Church, where she served as Sunday school teacher and literature person and was on several committees.

Surviving are her three children, Donna (Rodney) Pangle, of Bourbonnais, Linda Chinski, of Chatsworth, and Cindy (Raymond) Colevris, of Kankakee; seven grandchildren and their hometowns, Jennifer Kerouac (Scott Steinhart), Spring Hill, Fla., Julie (Jason) Williams, Noblesville, Ind., David (Amanda) Kerouac, Bourbonnais, Darrin Mobbs, Chatworth, Adam (Aimee) Chinski, Eastlake, Ohio, Brett Colevris, Bradley, and Jenna Colevris, Kankakee; two stepgrandchildren, Eric (Lynn) Pangle, Arlington Heights, and Jennifer (Michael) Yahyapour, Scottsdale, Ariz.; 13 great-grandchildren; five stepgreat-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Edith Winge, Clifton; one brother, Kenneth Morris, Centennial, Colo.; six sisters-in-law, Lou Hart, Rose (Jim) Swanson, Adeline Chinski, Lois Chinski, Arvella Morris and Elvira Morris; two brothers-in-law, John "Skip" (Ruthann) Chinski and Daniel Chinski; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by one son, Robert J. Chinski Jr.; five sisters, Iona Levreau, Etha (Bowers) Gibbs, Thelma Morris, Donna Morris and Carol Sullivan; and six brothers, Vincent, Milton, John "Jack," Morris, Leo, Harold and Carl Morris.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, until the 11 a.m. funeral service, both at Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home in Bourbonnais. Cremation rites will follow the service. Private family inurnment will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Chebanse.

Memorials may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church or UpliftedCare Hospice, Bourbonnais.

Please sign her guestbook at clancygernon.com.