Cheryl Nicolaides

Cheryl Nicolaides was born May 24, 1948 in Herrin to Paul and Marjorie (Sneed) McWhirter. Cheryl married Henry Nicolaides August 28, 1969. They celeebrated 51 years of marriage. Cheryl studied music at Southern Illinois University and graduated with a bachelor degrees in piano performance and music education in 1971 and a Masters Degree in Piano Pedagogy in 1977. Cheryl taught private piano in Carbondale, Marion, Du Quoin and Murphysboro prior to moving to Houston Texas in 1979. She taught private piano as an adjunct faculty at College of the Mainland in Texas City, Texas and maintained a piano studio in Clear Lake City. Cheryl served in the music ministry in several churches as pianist and choir director. Cheryl concurrently studied health sciences at San Jacinto College and Texas Chiropractic College in Pasadena, Texas graduating with a Doctor of Chiropractic Degree in 1988. She was licenced to practice in Texas and Illinois. Serving her Lord, Jesus Christ, she ministered in music and health care with her husband, Henry in Texas and then in Southern Illinois and retired from practice in 2009. After retiring Cheryl worked with her husband in the field of piano technology in their piano service business, Nicolaides Piano Services, Cheryl was also an accomplished organist and had been a member of the American Guild of Organists. Cheryl is survived by: her husband Henry: two sons Ian and Jan; three grandchildren, Alexander, Benjamin and Lily Nicolaides Van Dyke; one great grandchild Branson Henry VanDyke; and one sister Cynthia McWhirter Fouke. Cheryl's love and passion for her Lord Jesus Christ and her family was her great joy throughout her life. She communicated that through her music at the piano. With her family and, with her recordings of her favorite and cherished hymns, Victory in Jesus and In th Garde, playing she entered into His presence at 4:30 pm, Sunday December20,2020. There will be a Celebration of Life service at 2:00 pm Saturday January 9, 2020 at the Van Natta Funeral Home in Herrin with Rev. Michael Williams officiating. Visitation will be form 1:00pm until time of service. Memorial can be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois Inc, envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Burial will be at a later date.