Diana Lynne Daskalos - Chesny

Diana Lynne Daskalos-Chesny, of Fairfax, VA passed away peacefully into eternal sleep April 28, 2024, at Inova Women’s Hospital, with family and loved ones at her side, after a hard-fought and valiant battle with leukemia.

Diana was born in Charleston, WV, the oldest child of Lois Mae (Young) and John Daskalos Jr., with younger sister, Stephanie (Fifi) and brother, Manuel J. She graduated from Sissonville High School in 1977 and was very active with clubs and personal interests. As an avid chess player for most of her life, Diana was captain of the Chess Club, a member of the debate team, a member of the academic/quiz bowl team, and trained to be a skilled draftsman. After high school, Diana took a position at Hall Drafting and Art Supply, and in 1980, she went on to work in the drafting and cartography department at Columbia Gas in Charleston, alongside her father. After meeting and marrying Edward Chesny Jr., they started what would become their large family of seven, with five rambunctious boys, moving out west and living in Oklahoma and Texas for many years.

As a dedicated, loving, and supportive mother to her five big boys, Emmanuel, Michael, Edward III, Christopher, and Gregory, Diana always stressed the importance of education and learning about the world at large as a life-long endeavor. Taking regular night classes all through the 1980s in art history, graphic design, and world history most semesters at the local community college, even allowing her boys to enthusiastically tag along at times. Her passions for the historical, the arts, world cultures, and antiquities, along with her love of learning and reading would be ever-present throughout her entire life, greatly influencing her children’s own interests and pursuits in many aspects of their lives well into adulthood and as parents themselves. Diana always loved to talk about the various and varied successes, adventures, and accomplishments of her sons and grandchildren.

Diana’s devotion to, and love for, her entire and extended family, with many aunts, uncles, and countless cousins, all over the country was a constant, and, as a mother to her five brainy, active, and precocious boys, this was reinforced regularly and in so many ways all her life. Cross-country road trips to visit family year after year with all kids en-tow and always with great music playing, provided deep connections and relationships between family members, along with forever-lasting memories of these reunion-esque excursions. During family visits, Diana loved playing pinochle and gabbing along with her parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins late into the night. Cooking for her family was one of Diana’s greatest joys and pleasures, and this love was passed on to her sons and grandchildren.

Diana, like her father, was exceedingly proud of her Greek family heritage and the Daskalos/Daskalogrigorakis family home village of Xania on the island of Crete. She heavily imparted this deep love of her Hellenic background and culture into her sons in so many ways, particularly through their active involvement at their local Greek Orthodox churches at every level, especially as dedicated dancers and volunteers at the annual Greek festivals, which brought great pride to Diana.

In the 1990s, Diana took ownership of an antique store (a life-long dream) in historic downtown Claremore, OK, running it for several years with the help of her supportive husband, sons, and local friends. Later in life, she moved north to Minneapolis, MN, for a few years, working for the Minneapolis Symphony’s administrative offices, then moving south to Tarpon Springs, FL, for over a decade, where she absolutely fell in love with the local exotic wildlife, sub-tropical climate of the coastal region, and the unique experiences of living in and among the Old World-style Greek commercial sponge fishing community there, making many life-long friends over the years.

Being a YiaYia (grandmother) was one of Diana’s greatest and proudest accomplishments in life, and her unparalleled love and devotion for her seven grandchildren (and counting) will live on forever.

Diana is survived by her former husband, Edward Chesny Jr.; sons, Emmanuel Daskalos, Michael Chesny, Edward Chesny III, Christopher Chesny, and Gregory Chesny (Chelsae); grandchildren, Alexander Daskalos, Zoe Chesny, Keira Chesny, Alexandria Chesny, Anastasia Chesny, Gabrielle Chesny, and Michael James Chesny; mother, Lois Daskalos; sister, Stephanie Daskalos; and brother, Manuel J. Daskalos (Jenny).

Diana has joined her beloved father, John Daskalos Jr., whom she adored and revered until her last breath, in eternal peace. May her memory truly be eternal for all those whose lives that she touched.

Viewings for family and friends will be held Friday May 10, 5-7 pm at Tyler Mountain Funeral Home & Memory Gardens, Cross Lanes, WV, and Saturday May 11, 12-1 pm at Saint John Greek Orthodox Church, Charleston, WV, with a funeral service at 1 pm, and interment service following at Tyler Mountain Funeral Home & Memory Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Saint John Greek Orthodox Church in Charleston, WV.

Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.tylermountainfuneralhome.com