SR0577 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0577 LRB095 20413 GRL 47981 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Rosemary Berkel Crisp of Marion, who passed away on December 1, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Rosemary Berkel Crisp was born in Chicago to Albert and Rose Berkel; she graduated from St. Mary's Hospital School of Nursing in Evansville, Indiana in 1958 and from the John Robert Powers Model and Finishing School in St. Louis in 1981; and

WHEREAS, Rosemary Berkel Crisp worked as a nurse at Marion Memorial Hospital in Marion from 1958 until 1960; she married Harry L. Crisp II in 1960 and focused her energies on raising a family, community service, and growing the family business, Pepsi MidAmerica Company, which she co-owned with her husband; and

WHEREAS, Rosemary Berkel Crisp served as a volunteer nurse for the American Red Cross, Lions Club, and Girl Scouts from 1970 until 1985; even after she ceased practicing as a nurse in the mid-1980s, she continued to renew her nursing license every two years; and

WHEREAS, Rosemary Berkel Crisp was a co-founder of the Southern Illinois Women's Health Conference; she also served on the board of directors for the Hands of Hope clinic, which offers free health care to needy families; and

WHEREAS, Rosemary Berkel Crisp served on dozens of boards, foundations, and committees during her lifetime; she was a Trustee of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois; she was Director of the National Institute of Health, the National Institute of Nursing Research in Washington, D.C., the Southeast Missouri State University Foundation in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, the John A. Logan College Foundation in Carterville, The University of Tennessee Women's Philanthropy Alliance, the Marion Civic Center Foundation in Marion, the National League for Nursing in New York, New York, and the Society for Advancement of Women's Health Research in Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, Rosemary Berkel Crisp was the recipient of many awards in recognition of her lifelong devotion to improving the quality of healthcare services across Southern Illinois and beyond; she was honored as "Citizen of the Year" by the Greater Marion Area Chamber of Commerce; the nursing facility at Southeast Missouri State University was renamed the Rosemary Berkel Crisp Hall of Nursing in recognition of her many accomplishments; and in October 2007, she was honored by Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with its prestigious Inspiring Women of Achievement Award; and

WHEREAS, Rosemary Berkel Crisp was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion; and

WHEREAS, Rosemary Berkel Crisp was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Rose Berkel; and

WHEREAS, Rosemary Berkel Crisp is survived by her husband of 47 years, Harry L. Crisp II; her son, H. Lee Crisp III and wife, Stacie; her daughters, Cynthia Crisp Dickens and husband, Brian Keith, Cara Crisp Sims and husband, Chris, Catherine Crisp Newbold and fiance, Greg Wilson, Carole Crisp Schwarm and husband, Mark, and Cheryl Crisp Rabbitt and husband, Bob; her brother, Jim Berkel and wife, Sue; her sisters, Pat Pulley and husband, Barney, and Delores McCuan and husband, LaVerne; her grandchildren, Brandee Newbold Cohlmeyer, Justin Tyler Newbold, Cameron Newbold, Ryan Rabbitt, Olivia Rabbitt, Taylor Rabbitt, Alexandra Rabbitt, Hunter Dickens, Harrison Dickens, Hayden Dickens, Hallie Crisp, Harry L. Crisp IV, Christopher Palmer Sims, Luke Sims, Jacob Schwarm, and Jeremiah Schwarm; and her great-grandchild, Elaine Cohlmeyer; and

WHEREAS, Rosemary Berkel Crisp will be remembered by all who knew and loved her as a kind and giving person whose faith, hope, and love inspired everyone she met; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Rosemary Berkel Crisp; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Rosemary Berkel Crisp as an expression of our sympathy.