SR0031 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0031 LRB099 04157 MST 24177 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Mary Ann C. Knell of Peoria Heights, who passed away on December 15, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Mary Ann Knell was born in Peoria on September 3, 1950 to Claire and Rose M. Crabill; she graduated from Saint Patrick Catholic Grade School and Washington Community High School; she graduated with high honors from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where she was Captain of the cheerleaders, chapter President of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority - Zeta Phi Eta, Speech Honorary, and Homecoming Queen finalist; she married Charles D. "Denne" Knell in 1972; and

WHEREAS, Mary Ann Knell began teaching speech at Rantoul Township High School in 1972; in 1973, she and her husband moved to Dallas, Texas and she worked as a fashion buyer at the Sanger-Harris department store while her husband completed law school at Southern Methodist University; she returned to Peoria in 1977 and worked as a buyer at Bergner's department store; and

WHEREAS, Mary Ann Knell had an award-winning 30-year career in real estate; she was known as the leader of The Knell Group, a top real estate team, which continues to lead the way in Peoria-area real estate at Colwell Banker Honig Bell; and

WHEREAS, Mary Ann Knell was active with the Junior League of Peoria, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital midwest affiliate, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, and the Family House; upon her mother's passing, she helped establish the Rose M. Crabill Scholarship at the OSF Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing and served on the school's board; she was an active member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church; and

WHEREAS, Mary Ann Knell was preceded in death by her parents; and

WHEREAS, Mary Ann Knell is survived by her husband, Charles; her daughter, Antonina Marie (Patrick Decker) Sachse; her son, Peter W. Knell; her granddaughter, Antonina Rose Sachse; and her brother, Warren (Mary Jane) Crabill; 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 Ann C. Knell, 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 Ann Knell as an expression of our deepest sympathy.