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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Florence M. O'Neil Brannon on December 9,
42018 at the age of 98; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Florence Brannon was born on October 9, 1920 to
6James and Mary O'Neil, the oldest of their three daughters, in
7Ludlow, Massachusetts; she was salutatorian of the Ludlow High
8School class of 1937, and, in 1941, graduated from
9UMass-Amherst with a Bachelor of Arts in Home Economics (now
10Food Science); she was a member and officer of Chi Omega
11sorority; and
 
12    WHEREAS, In 1942, Florence Brannon was recruited by the
13United States Department of Agriculture, where she served for
14six years as a food inspector of California Canneries; in this
15role, she ensured that the foods delivered to the U.S. military
16from San Diego to the Oregon border were Grade A; she relished
17the "good deal of freedom" the position gave her; while living
18in San Francisco, she married Richard Brannon, a ship's
19engineer in the Merchant Marines; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Florence Brannon, after the birth of her son,
21earned a master's degree in management at The Ohio State
22University; she resumed her career with the federal government

 

 

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1as a dietician for Northampton V.A. Medical Center, where she
2worked for 35 years, eventually becoming the chief dietician
3supervising the 65 staff members; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Florence Brannon was active for many years in the
5American Dietetic Association and Zonta International, a
6service group focused on empowering women around the world;
7following her retirement in 1985, she became a great traveler,
8visiting family, friends, and historic places across the United
9States as well as in Europe, the Middle East and Asia,
10including a favorite trip to the Great Wall of China; and
 
11    WHEREAS, In December 2002, Florence Brannon moved to Oak
12Park to be near family; she was considered very observant and
13pleasant; in celebration of her 98th birthday, she ordered
14Chinese food with champagne and creme brulee for all; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Florence Brannon was preceded in death by her son,
16Richard, and by her sisters, Alice Marshall and Marion (Paul)
17Scholten; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Florence Brannon is survived by her
19brother-in-law, James Marshall, as well as many nieces and
20nephews and other loved ones; therefore, be it
 
21    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL

 

 

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1ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
2Florence M. O'Neil Brannon, and extend our sincere condolences
3to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be
4it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6presented to the family of Florence Brannon as an expression of
7our deepest sympathy.