Obituaries

Home 9 Obituaries 9 Diane Chmelik

Diane Chmelik

April 14, 1932 - April 20, 2023

Diane Chmelik Diane Chmelik
  • Memorial Service

Diane Chmelik was born in Chicago to Anton and Violet Svec and was their only child. Diane grew up in Berwyn, Il. and graduated Morton H.S. in 1950. She then attended Beloit University for 2 years. In 1952, she met her soon-to-be-husband Frank Chmelik and married in 1953, having 2 children as a result of her marriage. While married, they moved from Chicago, to Columbus, Oh, to Penfield, NY, to Long Valley, NJ, to Chesterland, OH, back to Neshanic Station, NJ as a result of Frank’s transfers. 

  In Long Valley, Diane started her career in zoning and planning working for the local governments ending her career as the zoning and planning administrator for Raritan Township, NJ in 1995. When employed by the township, Diane saw a need for an association of planning administrators so they could share, solve and be a resource for other administrators. She helped found and was first president of the New Jersey Association of Planning and Zoning Administration in 1991, an organization that still exists.

Diane and Frank had a love of travel and good food. Starting in 1971 they took their first cruise. They traveled to many countries in Europe, S. America, Africa, and SE Asia, continuing travel after Frank’s death in 2016. Her last trip was to the western parks in Oct of 2020. It was on these trips she started a search for her family’s heritage tracing her family from the Czech Republic. She was proud of her Czech heritage and the accomplishments of the Czech people.

  Diane was an excellent pistol shot competing in matches in the 1960s. She also made her own clothes and had a very good fashion sense. Another activity was a lifetime involvement in the Women’s Clubs wherever she was living and elected as an officer many times.

  When Diane and Frank retired, they moved to South Carolina after falling in love with the Low Country. They first settled on Hilton Head Island, but looking around further, they found Callawassie Island and felt that was home. On Callawassie Diane became involved in the island’s various operating committees as well as the social life of the island. She also developed a love for the area’s history and was a volunteer at 2 local museums. Diane was still involved in local government as a volunteer in first the Beaufort County Zoning Board of Appeals, starting in 1999, then moving to the county Planning Board until resigning in June of 2021.

  In October of 2022 she moved to Brighton Gardens assisted living in St. Charles, Il, near her Son, passing away quietly on April 20, 2023. She is survived by her daughter Beverly J Chmelik, her son William (Bill) Chmelik, and her 4 grandchildren Christopher, Caroline, Allison, and Elizabeth Chmelik. 

Donation should be made in lieu of flowers to your local Alzheimer’s Association.

Condolences


No Condolences to Show


Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *