HR0702 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0702 LRB093 21345 HSS 47722 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois learned with regret of the death of Patricia Susan O'Brien of Chicago on Sunday, February 15, 2004; and

WHEREAS, Patricia Susan O'Brien grew up in Oak Park and Chicago; she graduated from high school a year early, in 1971; she received a degree in special education from Loretta Heights College in Denver; and

WHEREAS, Ms. O'Brien lived in Melbourne, Australia, working as a special education teacher and part-time model and in Naples, Florida, working in real estate; she returned to Chicago and was a consultant at a solid-waste-disposal company, when she began researching what became her passion, the legalization of industrial hemp; and

WHEREAS, In 1996, Ms. O'Brien opened a store called O'Fields in Old Town that was dedicated to a variety of products made from hemp, including clothing, hats, soaps, and housewares; she was a driving force behind two pieces of legislation mandating research into industrial hemp; the bills were vetoed, but she continued her fight; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Patricia Susan O'Brien has been deeply felt by many, especially her sons, Jeffrey and Daniel Mandalis; her granddaughter, Emma Rose; her parents, Mary D. and Daniel P. O'Brien Sr.; and her siblings, Maureen O'Brien, Peggy (Richard) Schulze, and Peter (Mimi) O'Brien; she was a beloved aunt and cousin to many and will be greatly missed by her many dear friends; and

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Patricia Susan O'Brien, and we extend our sincere condolences to her friends, family, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Patricia O'Brien as an expression of our deepest sympathy.