Patricia Kirchner

Patricia “Pebby” (Hebert) Kirchner, 66, died on the morning of Friday, September 25, 2026 at our home after a long battle with Breast Cancer. I was born in Kankakee to Donald and Marie (Kimball) Hebert on April 13, 1960. I married Larry Kirchner on May 7, 1988. What can you say about the person that has made such a difference in your life and allowed you to grow and experience all the good things and share pain for the bad things. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner to build my life. We lived for many years in Millstadt, Illinois and made a lot of great friends. I worked in St. Louis and eventually operated my own accounting firm for several years as a C.P.A. Larry and I left the corporate world to come back to family where we bought a farm and changed our lives. We rehabbed a 100-year-old farmhouse, planted 6,000+ trees while fighting purple vetch and learned to fix whatever was broken. Everyone knows something is always broken on Bubba Farms. We ran a day lily farm for a few years and decided that we liked corn and beans much better. My Mom passed away from Breast Cancer in 1983. My battle started in 2008. To all the people out there with family and friends fighting Cancer, don’t treat them as sick people. Do not ask how many treatments they have left. Just treat them like normal people and talk about anything, absolutely anything but cancer. Don’t look at it as a bad thing or you will never survive. Be thankful every day for everything in your life and it will make you stronger. This is something that Thelma Hoffman did for both Mom and me. I hope Larry and I have built lasting memories with our nieces and nephews through vacations, fishing trips and visits to Bubba Farms. We have many pictures of smiling faces kissing their first fish. The next generation of fish kissers is being added with every Barbie and Cars pole. I always smile at my special memories of playing board and card games, especially “Chase The Ace”. Thanks to my family for all the wonderful stories about growing up. Keep sharing the memories and the laughs. I cannot thank our friends and family enough who have filled our lives with laughter and stories. Whether it be the family, neighbors we held so close, our football family, our farm family or the fire department family, thank you for all the memories, love and support. I would also like to thank the wonderful people from the Riverside Cancer Center. The doctors, nurses and support staff with their dedication and wonderful working environment made me feel special and well taken care of. I am survived by my Father, Donald Hebert of Kentucky, Brothers Mike and Kathy Hebert of Georgia, Brian and Anita Hebert of Bradley, Sisters Kathy and Harold Tosh of Kentucky, and Trudy and Steven Lambert of Watseka. I am also survived by my in-laws: Sharon Kirchner, Linda and Dr. Robert Brockman, and Roger Kirchner all of Kankakee. There are many nieces and nephews as well as great nieces and nephews who are a big part of our lives. I am proceeded in death by my Mother, Marie (Kimball) Hebert, “Granny” Gertude (O’Neil) Kimball and my father-in-law Harley Kirchner. We also lost our extra special friends, Larry and Sandra Kay Vilt and Marty Vilt. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Memorials can be made to the Salina Fire Department.