Valley Falls, Rensselaer County

Diona "DJ" Chapko of Powder Mill Road passed away on Sunday, March 30, 2025 at home. She was 60.

Born in Nurmberg, Germany on April 25, 1964, daughter of Rainy Chapko and Ellen Collignon.

She was a graduate of Hoosic Valley High School, class of 1982. She attended Mohawk Valley Community College from 1982-1984 with an A.A.S. in Advertising Design and Production. She went on to study at SUNY New Paltz attaining her BS in Art education and then her Masters in Art Studio. She worked as an art teacher at Christ the King School from 1998-2010 with kindergarten to eighth grade students and at St. Jude the Apostle School from 2000-2020 teaching pre kindergartners through sixth grade students.

She was a talented artist and enjoyed creative paints, arts and crafts, crocheting gifts for family members and friends. Diona enjoyed family gatherings and playing cribbage. An avid New York Yankees and Dallas Cowboys fan, she also loved flower gardening, Bingo, fishing, trips to the casino and scratch off games. Above all she loved her cats.

Diona is survived by her brother Dennis, her sister Brenda (George), two nieces Cassondra (Anthony) Chapko and Camille (Allen) Coyne, her step brother JD (Carolyn) Maloney as well as several aunts, uncles and cousins.

In addition to her parents Rainy and Ellen, Diona is predeceased by her step mother Stephanie Maloney Chapko.

Visiting will be on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 from 3:00-5:00pm at the Chase-Smith Family Funeral Homes, 173 Main Street, Schaghticoke. A memorial service will be held in the funeral home at 5:00 following visitation. Burial will be at a later date in St. John's Cemetery, Schaghticoke.

Diona's family would like to thank the staff at the Elliot in Troy and the Community Hospice for their kind and compassionate care of Diona.

Kindly consider a donation to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society or to the American Cancer Society in loving memory of Diona Chapko.

Online remembrances may be made at www.chasesmithfamily.com