Ann Marie Vinkler

Anna Marie Vinkler, nee Manz, age 96. Beloved wife of the late Jerome Charles Vinkler; loving mother of Gregory Vinkler, Christine (the late Dominic) Colantuono, the late Lee (the late Nancy) Vinkler, Jerome Vinkler, James (Henry Santiago) Vinkler, and Donna (Phil) Jackson; devoted grandmother of Dan (Michelle), the late Kara, and Kim Colantuono; Tricia and Christopher Vinkler; Katie (Tim) O'Donnell, Matt (Annie Pittman) and Jackie Vinkler; Vicki, Steven (Allie), and David Jackson; great-grandmother of Maddy, Ally and Joey; Gracie, Molly and Rory; and Julian; preceded in death by two sisters, Cecilia and Emily, and one brother, Albert; aunt of many loved nieces and nephews.
Anna passed peacefully on November 28 at Cordia Senior Residence, with her two daughters by her side. She was born June 16, 1929, and grew up having Hyde Park as her playground. She was a self-proclaimed tomboy, her family affectionately calling her Micky. She attended St. Thomas the Apostle school, and studied piano for many years, becoming an accomplished classical pianist. She went to Wilson Junior College, during which she met Jerry Vinkler, the love of her life. Anna Marie and Jerome Charles were married Aug. 27, 1949. She became a homemaker and loving mother to six children. They moved from Avalon Park to Scottsdale in Chicago, and then to Palos Park in 1962. Anna worked for several years with her husband in his State Farm Insurance office. Jerome unexpectedly passed away in 1980 when he was 52. Anna never remarried.
Anna was extremely handy. She was an excellent cook and loved gardening and doing craftwork. She painted lovely ceramic pieces for others and constructed beautiful original holiday decorations to display. She was a wonderful and thoughtful gift-giver and immensely enjoyed all family celebrations - birthdays, graduations and christenings - and holidays, especially Christmas. The gathering of family was of utmost importance to her. And music was always a part of her life - she listened to everything from classical works ("Clair de Lune") to the movie score for "Ben-Hur" to KC & The Sunshine Band. Anna was an avid reader, especially of Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie and fictional espionage. She loved zoos and she loved to travel, managing to get to 33 states, as well as Mexico, Canada, Spain, Germany and England.
Anna volunteered as a mentor in the Great Books Program when her children were in grammar school and was a Girl Scout leader for four years. She battled and won a fight with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma two years after her husband died. In 1984 Anna went to work for the IRS in its Criminal Investigation Division downtown for 10 years, receiving many awards for outstanding service. Upon retiring, she kept busy with hiking (especially around Lake Katherine in Palos Heights), water aerobics and working as a volunteer at a women's shelter for domestic violence.
Memorial Mass Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, 10 AM at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 124 N. Spring Ave. La Grange, IL 60525. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the American Heart Association would be greatly appreciated.