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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Karen
4Antoinette Pepper, who passed away on August 15, 2023; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Karen Pepper was born to Doris Marie (Dixon)
6Austin and Theodore Roosevelt Austin in Chicago on March 11,
71949; she was raised primarily by her paternal grandmother,
8Luellen Dorch Adams, and stepgrandfather, James Adams; she
9graduated from Farragut High School in 1966; she married
10William R. Pepper in 1969, and they later divorced; she
11attended Rosary College and the University of Illinois
12Chicago's School of Nursing; she then received certification
13for interior design from Malcom X College in Chicago; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Karen Pepper worked as an interior designer for
15Montgomery Ward and Sears before retiring from Plunkett
16Furniture; she designed interior furnishings and custom window
17treatments for some of Chicagoland's largest and most upscale
18homes; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Karen Pepper committed to her faith at an early
20age; she attended the Holy Family Catholic Church in Chicago,
21where she was a member of the choir and the Preservation
22Society, and she taught Afro-dance during the church's summer

 

 

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1youth programs; she was involved in the Holy Family Parish
2Council for several decades, serving as president for a term;
3she later became a member of the Apostolic Church of God in
4Chicago, where she was a longtime member of the Sanctuary
5Choir; she shared her skills as a seamstress by altering choir
6robes and assisting with sewing in the Liturgical Ministry;
7she also taught and participated in Sunday school; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Karen Pepper loved food, games, puzzles, and
9caring for plants and flowers around her home; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Karen Pepper will be remembered as a nurturer,
11designer, seamstress, and friend; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Karen Pepper was preceded in death by her
13parents; her brother, Theodore "Butch" Austin; her sister,
14Diana Schmakel; and her godmother, MaryAnn Jones; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Karen Pepper is survived by her children, Desirée
16(Kenneth) Pepper-Venzant, DeShona (Alexander) Robertson,
17Donovan (Heidi) Pepper, and Devin (Alicia) Pepper; her
18grandchildren, Maimuna, Tacuma, Dakota, Dillon, William,
19Madilyn "Madi", and Lukas "Luke"; her stepsister, Dr. Loretta
20Brunious; her uncle, William "Bill" (Florence) Dixon; her
21cousin, Deborah L. Dixon; her sister in-law, Dr. Judith
22Austin; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews;

 

 

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1and a host of other relatives and friends; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
3HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
4we mourn the passing of Karen Antoinette Pepper and extend our
5sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew
6and loved her; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to the family of Karen Pepper as an expression of our
9deepest sympathy.