SR0638 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0638 LRB102 21403 ECR 30519 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Mary E. Ferry of Waukegan, who passed away on October 29, 2021 at the age of 100; and

WHEREAS, Mary Ferry was born to Louis and Clementina Zannini on October 15, 1921; she started first grade not speaking English and graduated valedictorian from Holy Child High School in 1939; she graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1949 with a double major; she was the first female president of the Newman Club, now St. John's Catholic Newman Center, at the University of Illinois; she married the love of her life, Lawrence Ferry, on June 3, 1952, and they celebrated 65 years together before his passing; and

WHEREAS, Mary Ferry worked from the time she was little, starting in her parents' restaurants, until her retirement from Lake County in the late 1980s; and

WHEREAS, Mary Ferry was a poet and writer and a wildly successful crossword puzzle solver; she had an incredible sense of humor, a clever wit, a caring hospitality, and a ready smile; she was gracious and kind and truly lived her faith and deeply loved her family; she was a loyal Chicago Cubs fan ever since she met Gaby Hartnett in the 1920s and was thrilled to watch them finally win the World Series in 2016; she and her husband traveled extensively; and

WHEREAS, Mary was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her brothers, Gene (Eileen) Zannini and Dr. John (Frances) Zannini; her son-in-law, Ed Biondi; her stepdaughter, Patti (Nels Nizer); her brothers-in-law, Clyde (Barbara) Ferry and Paul R. Ferry; her very special family members, Lily and Jack Hannan and Dr. Tom and Marifred Jackson; and those left of her college roommates and lifelong friends, the Stonehaven Girls; and

WHEREAS, Mary Ferry is survived by her loving children, Marty, Linda, Paul (Sherre), and Jane; her grandchildren, Kate, Mike, and Dave; her great-granddaughter, Darkis; and many other relatives and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Mary E. Ferry 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 Ferry as an expression of our deepest sympathy.