Viola May Armstrong

May 2, 1929 — February 14, 2022

On Monday, February 14, 2022, Viola May Armstrong, passed peacefully in Pana, Illinois after suffering a stroke. She was born on a farm in Herrick, Illinois on May 2, 1929 during the Great Depression to Willis and Nellie Wirey. She married Jack Armstrong in August 1950 in Pana. They raised four children together, Viky (Dave) Maton, Jacalyn (Gary) Seitz of Springfield, Eric (Cheryl) Armstrong of Foley, Alabama and Kurt (Dana) Armstrong of Chatham.

Viola was librarian at the Pana Library for 20 years. She also taught Sunday school at St. Paul Lutheran Church for many years, as well as volunteered with Meals on Wheels, Red Cross, and Pana Senior Center, where she was an officer for several years. She was a dedicated mother and homemaker, known for her fabulous cooking. She loved music and dancing and spent many hours dancing the night away with friends in the Pana area. She survived the Great Depression, the Covid isolation, and most devastating, the loss of her daughter, Viky. But she never questioned the quality and completeness of her life. Viola was one of the kindest people you could ever meet and she will be greatly missed.

Viola is survived by three children, Jacalyn, Eric and Kurt; 8 grandchildren, Erica Linn, Pana; Brooke Doggett, Chatham; Chad Armstrong, Vandalia; Deric Armstrong, Chicago; Zac DeBrun, Denver, CO; Morgan Scheffers, Chatham; Billie Buhnerkempe, Chatham; and Lauren Sabo, Chatham. Viola also leaves 13 great grandchildren, Brody Lehn-Armstrong, Parker and Emerson Doggett, Jack, Ace and Gemma Armstrong; Alma and Will Buhnerkempe, Hadley and Harper Scheffers, and Mack, Otto and Cole Sabo.

Viola was preceded in death by her parents, brother Merrill Wirey, sister Naomi Malin, her husband Jack in 1998, and her daughter Viky in 2018.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 18, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. in McCracken-Dean Funeral Home with Pastor Leon Goff officiating. Burial will be in Linwood Cemetery, Pana. Visitation will be Friday from 1:00 p.m. until service time in the funeral home.

Memorials in Viola’s honor may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, in remembrance of her daughter, Viky, who had vascular dementia and Pana Library, where Viola worked for many years and will be accepted by McCracken-Dean Funeral Home who is assisting the family.

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