Emma J. Chernisky, 97, Jacksonville

Emma Jean Chernisky, 97, of Jacksonville, died on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009, at Passavant Area Hospital in Jacksonville.

Services will be held 10:30 a.m. on Thursday at Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Jacksonville. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until time of services on Thursday at the funeral home. Graveside services will be held

At 2:30 p.m. on Thursday at Fairlawn Cemetery in Vandalia.

Mrs. Chernisky was born on Dec. 23, 1911 in Vandalia, the daughter of John and Stella Frances Smith Forbes. She married Joseph G. Chernisky on Oct. 10, 1929, in Pana; he died on Dec. 6, 1974.

She is survived by daughters, Bonnie Jean and her husband, Bob Minor of South Jacksonville, Mary Jane Branham of South Jacksonville, and Anna Mae and her husband Maurice Siebert of Granite City; 13 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and sisters, Beth Bethards of Chico, Calif., and Deloris Neece of Casey. She was preceded in death by four brothers, Leonard, Wayne, Wilford and Donald Forbes; and three sisters, Lucille Frailey, Dorothy Kistler and Donna Radcliff.

Mrs. Chernisky was a machine operator for 35 years at

Johnson, Stephens & Shinkle Shoe Co. in Vandalia. Following her move to Jacksonville in 1975, she was employed with the Green Thumb Program of Illinois Public Aid for 13 years and with the Wells Center for 17 years. She retired in 2007 at the age of 95.