HR1162 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1162 LRB095 20516 GRL 48433 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Charlessa Wiggins of Glen Ellyn on the occasion of her 110th birthday on February 9, 2008; and

WHEREAS, Named after her father, Charles, Charlessa Bristol Stark was born in Duluth, Minnesota on February 9, 1898; she moved with her family to Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1912; shortly after World War I, she fell in love with John David Wiggins; they married in 1928; and

WHEREAS, Along with raising her sons, Charlessa Wiggins served as an activist for women's rights; she belonged to several study groups and traveled extensively; and

WHEREAS, Charlessa Wiggins has served as a volunteer for various groups throughout her adult life; she was a volunteer for the University of Minnesota International Department in conjunction with the State Department in Washington D.C. during the 1950s, where she and others would play host to visitors from around the world; while working as a volunteer for St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Minneapolis during the 1950s, she made an important discovery when she found books and records in the basement of the diocese that were to be thrown out; these items turned out to be very significant and valuable historical records of Bishop Henry B. Whipple, who was elected the first Episcopal bishop of Minnesota in 1859; and

WHEREAS, After the passing of her husband, John, in 1971, Charlessa Wiggins continued living in Minneapolis until 2004, when she moved to Wisconsin to be closer to her family; after her son, David, passed away, she moved to The Meadows in Glen Ellyn to be closer to her son Peter, where she remains to this day; and

WHEREAS, Charlessa Wiggins wears dresses every day, taking pride in her meticulous appearance; she loves working crossword puzzles and reading books; and

WHEREAS, Charlessa Wiggins' wonderful family includes her sons, David and Peter, her grandchildren, Peter Wiggins Jr. and Sheryl Adkins, and her three great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Charlessa Wiggins on the occasion of her 110th birthday and wish her many more happy years to come; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Charlessa Wiggins as a symbol of our esteem and respect.