SR0037 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0037 LRB095 07322 MST 27461 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois wish to express their sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mary D. Richards of Aurora who passed away on Tuesday, January 9, 2007; and

WHEREAS, She was born on September 29, 1933 to Andrew L. and Eleanor E. (nee Donovan) Heitkotter; she was united in marriage to Bill Richards in November of 1955; she was a graduate of Northwestern's James Ward Thorne School of Nursing and began her career at the Dryer Clinic in Aurora; and

WHEREAS, She was a tireless advocate to her entire community and devoted countless hours and energies in service to the Aurora Junior Women's Club as the Director of Aurora Children's Dental Service for 35 years; she also was involved in The Aurora Republican Women's Club, Senior Services Associates, and the Visiting Nurses Association; she and her family were members of the Holy Angels Parish and she quickly became involved with the St. Anne's Society; she was the first recipient of the Dr. George Shimkus Award for Community Service; and

WHEREAS, She ran for office in 1980 and was elected to the Kane County Board where she served for 24 years; as a member of the board, she assisted in the revitalization of the County's Health Department, led the Forest Preserve Commission's expansion of open space, and was instrumental in setting up Government Day in Kane County; and

WHEREAS, She was an ardent fan of the Kane County Cougars; she also had registered hundreds of voters by organizing and conducting her own voter registrations; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Mary D. Richards has been deeply felt by many, especially her husband of 51 years, G. William Richards; her daughter, Rebecca (Walter) Thompson; her son, Thomas A. (Kathy) Richards and family, Melanie Franklin and Stephen Dale; her daughter, Debbie (Carl) Angello and family, Jason and Joshua Angello and Brooke Hermann; her daughter, Robin Kramer and children, Jessica and Trevor; her daughter, Mimi (Jeff) Steinwart and family, Erin, Emily, and Natalie; her son, Chip (Stefene) Richards and family, Megan, Alexis, and Ben; her daughter, Amy Richards; her five great-grandchildren; her niece and goddaughter, Karen (Jim) Bozarth; and other nieces and nephews; she was preceded in death by her parents and her sisters, Anne Joel and Kathryn Fox; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Mary D. Richards, and we extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to her family as an expression of our deepest sympathy.