It is with great sadness the family of Cheryl Rene Gibbons Petroshus announces her passing, May 30th 2023.

Cheryl was born in Chicago Illinois on July 12 1946, to Rex and Shirlee Gibbons, the eldest of four children (Bonita, Deborah and John, all pre deceased). She attended parochial school at St. Bernadette's Primary and Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School. She started working at an early age at the Beverly Woods Banquets and Restaurant, owned by the family of one of her dearest friends from school. She briefly attended Loyola University to pursue nursing but marriage and children disrupted her plans.

Cheryl had three boys in quick succession. The first two born in Chicago (John and Joe) and the third in Tucson (Jeremy). Cheryl's move to Arizona was made easier by her husband's family having made the move to Arizona a few years earlier. She was faced with raising 3 boys on her own. Not to be deterred, she played both mother and father as well as referee. Holding her head high, taking the boys to church regularly, weekly Sunday visits at great grandmother's home, active in her children's education, and making sure her boys were involved in sports, clubs and activities.

Cheryl was the head of a parent run anti desegregation effort. She was against it because she knew the people that were going to be affected would overwhelmingly be children in schools from predominantly minority neighborhoods, a fact she felt was unfair.

Cheryl was employed by Child Parent Centers Inc. for 40 years, (CPC is the company responsible for the Southern Arizona Head Start programs and other family educational services for underprivileged and lower income families; her children were in the first Head Start preschool classes in Tucson). She was personnel coordinator and responsible for payroll and benefits. She was very proud that she assisted so many people (some having never had or used work benefits before) choosing the right health insurance plan for themselves and their families, as well as investment and retirement planning.

Cheryl was a sports fan, especially the University of Arizona Wildcats, attending occasional football games and a season ticket holder for basketball games as well as supporting her children in their athletic development. Over the years her sons had played with or against some of city's best youth and high school athletes and she loved to talk about who she knew or who her sons played ball with.

Cheryl was a proud Chicago native and loved to tell stories of her youth growing up on the south side. She was always on the lookout for foods or restaurants and other items that were from Chicago. An avid shopper, she was a pro at doing Black Friday and day after Christmas sales before it was even really a thing. Sometimes it was difficult to get mother out of restaurants because she felt the need to talk to other patrons, especially if they had young children at the table. Much to the dismay of her boys.

Cheryl is survived by sons John (Theresa) and Jeremy (Lea), Joseph sadly had recently passed away in March, grandchildren Alex and Timothy (Joe), Samantha (Jeremy Lea) and two great grandchildren. She was an aunt to countless cousins (she loved all of you deeply!) as well as her children's paternal aunts and uncles who always treated her as their sister and helped her with the boys when they were young.

We would like to thank Krystal Saucedo and staff from Sedona Garden nursing home for all the help they gave our mother.

A memorial service will be held on June 15 2023 from 12-4pm at Carrillo's Tucson Mortuary (South Chapel) 240 S. Stone Ave., with a Rosary recited at 2:00 pm. Reception to follow at the Knights of Columbus on 601 S. Tucson Blvd. In lieu of flowers please make a donation in her name to the THS Badger Foundation at https://www.badgerfoundation.org/