Sylvia Herron

CARBONDALE - Sylvia E. (Greer) Herron passed away at 9:45 a.m., November 13, 2014 at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. Born the same day in 1923, it was her 91st birthday. She was born in Brisbane, Australia to Samuel and Amelia (Percy) Greer who preceded her in death. During WWII, she served as a civilian switchboard operator under General Douglas MacArthur. In 1945, she married WW II US Army Military Policeman, Robert Herron (deceased) and immigrated to the United States in 1946, where she became a citizen in 1990. To know Sylvia was to know how incredibly grateful she was for this citizenship. She is survived by her five children: (Mark) Patrick Herron of Washington; Kevin Herron of Carbondale; Brian Herron and wife, Martha of Geneseo, Illinois; Sean Herron and wife, Tracy of Carterville; and Kathleen Sisk and husband Gary of Makanda. She has ten grandchildren: Eroica Herron, Kelly Herron, Kyle Herron, Whitney Herron, Cameron Sisk, Lucas Herron, Evan Herron, Paul Herron, Rachel Sisk and Egan Herron. She also has three great-grandchildren: Tommy, Dalton, Liliana and Tucker. Her career as a switchboard operator continued in the United States, working in that capacity for 30 years at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, retiring in 1993. She was also avid at knitting, donating most of her creations to fellow cancer patients. Her last gift was to donate her body to SIU School of Medicine for the betterment of rising young physicians and medical personnel. In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to the SIH Foundation for the purpose of building the new cancer center in southern Illinois. You may send this c/o Meredith Funeral Home, 300 S. University, Carbondale, IL 62901.