SR0545 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0545 LRB099 12348 MST 35477 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Irene (nee Witek) Charcut of North Chicago, who passed away on May 9, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Irene Charcut was born in Chicago on August 24, 1919 to Michael and Angela (nee Michna) Witek; she attended Holy Rosary School and Waukegan High School; and

WHEREAS, Irene Charcut was employed at Sager Lock and Johnson Motors prior to enlisting in the Women's Army Air Corps in 1943; as a non-commissioned officer, she volunteered for overseas duty in 1945 and served in England and France; her nights in London were spent in underground shelters listening to air raid alarms and buzz bombs; after completing 3 years, she was discharged in 1946; she returned to Johnson Motors and attended Lake County Business College; she married Edward Charcut on August 15, 1948; and

WHEREAS, Irene Charcut's community service includes: Past President and longtime member of Catholic Women's Club; the School Board at Holy Family Parish; the Parish Council, Spiritual Life Commission, and choir at Queen of Peace Church; volunteer with the American Cancer Society and Chair of Annual Fund Drives; volunteer wheeler at Veteran's Hospital Chapel (more than 3,300 hours); minister of communion to the sick and homebound; Greater North Chicago Senior Citizen Club; Post 1122 American Legion; and Polish Legion of American Veterans, USA; and

WHEREAS, For decades on a pro bono basis, Irene Charcut assisted thousands of Polish immigrants who lovingly called her "ciocia" (auntie); she also served as an interpreter at a local bank for 17 years; she became the first female Lake County World War II veteran to participate in an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. in October of 2014; during the flight's mail call, she received 140 letters thanking her for her service; in November of 2014, the North Chicago City Council honored Irene with their Senior Citizen Hall of Fame award in recognition of more than 70 years of exemplary contributions and volunteer service to the local community; and

WHEREAS, Irene Charcut was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 37 years, Edward Charcut; her brother, Joseph Witek; and her sister and brother-in-law, Lottie and Matthew Siwula; and

WHEREAS, Irene Charcut is survived by her children, Paul (Mary Jo), Maria (Doug) Rector, Peter, and Philip (Pam); her 8 grandchildren, Nicholas (Kinlin), Jolene, and Chaz (Brittany) Charcut, Catherine, Mary, and James Rector, and Andrew and Cory Charcut; her great-grandchildren, Brady, Beason, Layla, and Cain; her foster children, John Burby, Mary Ann (Burby) Davis, and Patty (Burhman) Thompson; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Irene Charcut, 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 Irene Charcut as an expression of our deepest sympathy.