Phyllis Mae (Brox) Cherney

Phyllis M. Cherney, 92, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 12, 2025, surrounded by her loving children. She was born on June 18, 1933, in Chicago, the daughter of Samuel and Alice (Matthews) Brox. Phyllis, the youngest of three daughters, was from a tight-knit family of Lebanese descent, and raised near Douglass Park in Chicago’s Little Italy neighborhood. Phyllis was very proud of her Lebanese heritage, integrating it in the food she cooked and the open expression of warmth and love she showed her husband and children.

Music, especially opera, was in the air they breathed. Both her mother and sister performed opera, her sister professionally. Phyllis grew up singing alongside her sister helping her practice arias. She imbued her own family with love of music and believed that no house was complete without a piano, which her daughters learned to play. She loved hearing her oldest daughter play, especially Fur Elise and Misty. In addition to classical music, Phyllis was a huge Beatles fan, and in later years, was nuts about Josh Groban.

Alongside her music, Phyllis was a staunch sports devotee. Her father played baseball professionally and brought Phyllis to her first Cubs game when she was seven. She became a lifelong Cubs fan and was so knowledgeable about the game that she often called plays before the umpires. She always attended her older sons’ baseball games and her younger sons’ tennis matches.

Phyllis attended Nazareth High, an all-girls catholic high school in Chicago. After graduation, she attended DePaul University earning a diploma in office administration. She then became an executive secretary for Young and Rubicam.

Phyllis met Jerome Cherney in a church youth group while Jerome was working in Chicago as a chemist for American Can Company. Phyllis had her eye on Jerome for a while. Knowing that he grew up on a dairy farm in northeast Wisconsin, she studied up on cow breeds. On the way back from a youth group picnic in the country, the woman sitting next to Jerome on the bus exclaimed as they passed a field of cows, “My, those are awfully big pigs!” Sitting right behind them and on cue, Phyllis asserted, “Those aren’t pigs! Those are cows! Holstein Friesians! Known for their excellent milk production.” Jerome turned around and looked into Phyllis’ big beautiful brown eyes, not unlike the cows from home, and was smitten. They were married two years later, on October 12, 1957, at St. Hughs Catholic Church, in Lyons, IL. The happy couple went on to have four children and moved to Appleton in 1965. They celebrated 60 years together before he preceded her in death on November 10, 2017.

Family was the most important thing to Phyllis. Along with Jerome, who she said was her best friend and loved more with every passing year, attended every game, match, concert, event her children were involved in. Church was also central to her life. She was a member of St. Pius X for 60 years. She was an usher for over two decades and along with Jerome, volunteered at St. Pius X school’s aftercare program and UFRS (United for Reading Success). Additionally, she volunteered at the church’s annual festival and for Appleton, Kings Daughters and Meals on Wheels. Phyllis loved pets, from her beloved childhood dog, Boats, to her many ‘grandcats’ in later life.

Phyllis and Jerome loved to travel. For over two decades, they sojourned to Arizona to attend the Cubs spring training. They took a cruise to Alaska and visited Hawaii where Phyllis was able to reconnect with a cousin she hadn’t seen in 50 years. They loved Door County and visited often during every season. Phyllis’ trip of a lifetime was their adventure to Sri Lanka, to visit their youngest daughter.

Phyllis loved to read and didn’t feel life was right until she had a book started. Additionally, she and Jerome had a robust social life, belonging to several bridge clubs, a dance club, and keeping in touch with friends both near and far. She had seasons tickets to Appleton’s PAC and loved attending concerts at Lawrence Memorial Chapel and Xavier Fine Arts Theatre.

Phyllis is survived by her four children: Vicki Cherney, Jeff (Marilyn) Cherney, John (Andrea) Cherney, and Julie Cherney; grandchildren: Rachel (Grendol) and Matthew (Sara); other relatives and friends.

In addition to her husband and parents, Phyllis was preceded in death by her sisters: Marie and Alice.

Funeral Mass will be held at 11:30AM on Friday, October 24, 2025, at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 500 W. Marquette St., Appleton. Visitation will be on Friday at the church from 10AM until the time of the Mass. Interment will be in Highland Memorial Park, Appleton. 

Phyllis’ family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Country Villa, Touchmark, and ThedaCare Hospice for their care, kindness, compassion, and support. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Pius X Church or the Fox Valley Humane Society in Phyllis’s name.

“God, Family, Cubs”