SR0849 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0849 LRB097 22123 MST 70851 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate learned with regret of the death of Joan J. Kosinski of Chicago, who passed away on June 29, 2012; and

WHEREAS, She was born in 1935 to Stanley and Josephine Kurek; she grew up above her Polish immigrant father's tavern in the Back of the Yards neighborhood; she graduated from Lourdes High School and later Ray-Vogue College of Design; for a brief time she ran her own dress shop, Joni's, with the help of her sister; in 1957 she married George Kosinski and settled on the South Side where they became owners and operators of Aluminum Case Corp., a business they would run for more than four decades; and

WHEREAS, In 1952, at age 17, she was presented as a debutante at the Legion of Young Polish Women White and Red Ball; she was a life member of the Polish Arts Club and a member of the Polish Women's Civic Club since 1976; she served as president of the Polish Museum of America for 10 of the 40 years she sat on its board and was a former president of the Legion of Young Polish Women, her last position being that of Board Vice-President; she and her husband received the Polish Museum of America Polish Spirit Award in 1990 and the Advocates Society Award of Merit in 2003; and

WHEREAS, In 2003, she was chosen as one in 50 people in the country recognized as Polish Americans: Patrons of Culture and Art and in 2010, she was named one of the Outstanding Women in Philanthropy by the Cook County Circuit Court Clerk; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Joan Kosinski has been deeply felt by many, especially her daughter, Maria (Martin) Kosinski Weihing; her sister, Wanda Kurek; her nieces and nephews, Joan (Wayne) Slugocki, Walter (Karen) Kurek, Mary Kompare, Ellen (Michael) Allison, Anthony (Sherri) Ucho, and Joseph (Nora) Ucho; and her great nieces and nephews, Dr. Kathleen (William Barnum) Slugocki, Julie Kurek, Laura Kurek, Michael (Diana) Kompare, Dawn (fiance, Jason Pollard) Ucho, Christopher Ucho, Molly Allison, and Joseph Ucho Jr.; she was preceded in death by her husband, I. George Kosinski; her parents, Stanley and Josephine Kurek; her siblings, Walter (late Josephine) Kurek, Ted Kurek, and Estelle Kurek; her nephew, Robert Kosinski; her great niece, Joan Slugocki; her brother-in-laws, Anthony (Jean) Kosinski, Chester (late Helen) Kosinski, and Dennis Kosinski; and her sister-in-law, Sophie (late Matt) Ucho; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Joan Kosinski, and we 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 her family as an expression of our deepest sympathy.