Janet E. Cerny

Janet E. Cerny, 86, passed away peacefully on May 19, 2025. She was born in Berwyn, IL on March 9, 1939, to the late Clarence A. Hahn and the late Marion R. Kotlin; she was a loving wife of the late James A. Cerny, who she was married to for almost 46 years prior to his passing; beloved mother of Joan Cerny Cimaglia (Carl Cimaglia), James (Ximena) Cerny and Jeffrey (Zani) Cerny; cherished grandmother of Sebastian, Nicolas, Lucas, Marcus, Alison, Austin and Adam; treasured sister of Marilee Dalen (Hahn), the late Neal Hahn and the late Jean Conely (Hahn); she was a loving aunt of many nieces and nephews.

She grew up in Berwyn, IL. After getting married, she moved to Downers Grove, IL, where she raised her family and spent most of her adult life. In late 2023, she sold her house and moved to Beacon Hill in Lombard, IL.

After raising her kids, Janet decided to attend college and worked tirelessly to obtain her Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees. She started at College of DuPage where she obtained her Associate of Arts Degree. She continued to George Williams College, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and Applied Behavioral Science. Thereafter, she went to George Williams College and completed her Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW), with a Family Concentration. She worked for various health care and medical companies, including Suburban Psychiatric Associates and most recently she had her own private practice in Clinical Social Work.

She was a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Addictions Counselor. She also lectured to social work students on chronic mental illness, participated in volunteer work for various organizations, one being the Hinsdale Community House, where she counseled adolescents and families, was an outreach worker to area high school students, and she recruited and licensed homes for foster care.

She cherished quality time with her seven grandkids and was happiest while participating in, watching, and celebrating their various activities and milestones. She enjoyed bird watching, attending craft shows, collecting unique ornamentals, meeting with friends, hosting holiday gatherings, and socializing. She was very spiritual and explored spiritual healing techniques. She loved her fashion and jewelry with a nostalgic yet bold taste, and she always valued looking good when she went out.

She will be best remembered for her infectious laugh, effervescent character, and smile. She always made people feel welcome, comfortable, and unjudged. She was a very strong woman who endured a lot in life, but she never resented misfortune and always handled difficulties with love from an empathic heart.

A Memorial Visitation will be held from 10am to 11am on Sunday, June 1, 2025, at Woodlawn Funeral Home, 7750 W. Cermak Rd., Forest Park, IL, followed by a Prayer Service that will begin at 11am for those who wish to participate. Please wear something purple in honor of Jan’s favorite color.

A Private Inurnment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park, Forest Park, IL.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the YMCA are appreciated. Janet spent a lot of time at the Downers Grove YMCA exercising and meeting great friends.

https://www.ymcachicago.org/indian-boundary/donate-to-the-indian-boundary-y/

Info 708-442-8500 or www.woodlawnchicago.com