SR1410 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1410 LRB099 16546 MST 40882 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Mary Jean Gallagher, who passed away on December 29, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Mary Jean Gallagher was born in Hillside, New Jersey to Michael Jacob and Adelia Amelia Onan Bure on May 21, 1931; she received a Bachelor of Science from the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morristown, New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, Upon moving to Waukegan in her early twenties, Mary Jean Gallagher found employment as a dietician at St. Therese Hospital in Waukegan; she married James Gallagher, Sr. on January 30, 1954 at Immaculate Conception Church in Waukegan; and

WHEREAS, Mary Jean Gallagher and her family owned a cabin on the Mississippi River, where the family would frequently gather for bonfires, fireworks, cookouts, and hunt for turtles, frogs, and toads; she had near lifelong friends who were part of the "Birthday Club", and close neighbors, whose company she treasured; her favorite flowers were dandelions picked by children; and

WHEREAS, Mary Jean Gallagher was a member of St. Anastasia Roman Catholic Church in Waukegan since 1957 and she worked tirelessly over the years with a number of groups, including as Eucharistic Minister of Care at Victory Hospital, on the St. Anastasia School Board, and as President and a Board Member of the Sanctuary Society; she also worked with the Boy Scouts and attended bingo every Wednesday and volunteered at the soup kitchen on Mondays, with 8 graduations along the way; and

WHEREAS, Mary Jean Gallagher was also very active outside St. Anastasia; she served as President and Board Member of Altrusa International of Lake County, as a Board Member of the Family Services of Lake County, as a Board Member of the Health Department, as President and a Board Member of the Catholic Women's Club of Lake County, as 3rd Vice-President of Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (Cardinal Cody Medal Woman of the Year, Chicago), as a member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), as an AAUW Representative, as a Deputy Registrar of Lake County (Chamber of Commerce Award), and as a member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles; she worked for many years as a volunteer for a crisis hotline, Contact; she was a founding member of the Literacy Volunteers of Lake County and was instrumental, along with fellow Church Women United of Waukegan members, in starting the Crop Walk; for years she was involved with Interfaith Chaplaincy of Lake County, which held annual memorial services for the indigent of Lake County, as she believed no one should have to depart this world alone; and

WHEREAS, Mary Jean Gallagher was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Ruth Ann O'Brien; her brother-in-law, Jack O'Brien; her brother, James Michael; and her grandchildren, Thomas Joseph and Brianna; and

WHEREAS, Mary Jean Gallagher was the beloved wife of James, Sr.; the mother of James, Mark (Darlene), Ruth Ann, Jean Marie (Kurt), Mary Elaine (Michael), John (Elaine), Diane Lynn (Andy), and Kate Lynn (Scottie); the sister of John (Dawn) Bure; the grandmother of Kathy (Ramon), Steven (Cristi), Christopher, Sarah (Caleb), Megan (Chris), Kathleen (Brock), Christina, James, Daniel, Andrew, Caryn (Alex), Sean, Angelyn, Lynsey, Nicholas, Riley, Mikayla, and Curtis; the great-grandmother of Xavier, Abel, Ayden, Addison, Cassidy, Taylor, Lawrence, Olivia, Christopher, Connor, Cody, and Kevin; and godmother, aunt, cousin, neighbor, and friend to all; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Mary Jean Gallagher, and 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 the family of Mary Jean Gallagher as an expression of our deepest sympathy.