| 1 | 1 | | SR0404LRB103 33238 LAW 63047 r SR0404 LRB103 33238 LAW 63047 r |
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| 2 | 2 | | SR0404 LRB103 33238 LAW 63047 r |
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| 3 | 3 | | 1 SENATE RESOLUTION |
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| 4 | 4 | | 2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened |
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| 5 | 5 | | 3 to learn of the death of Drinda L. O'Connor, who passed away on |
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| 6 | 6 | | 4 July 16, 2023; and |
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| 7 | 7 | | 5 WHEREAS, Drinda O'Connor was born to James Paul and Joyce |
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| 8 | 8 | | 6 Inez Hicks in Monticello, Kentucky on August 9, 1951; she |
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| 9 | 9 | | 7 graduated from Pleasant Plains High School and earned her |
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| 10 | 10 | | 8 Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Sangamon State |
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| 11 | 11 | | 9 University in Springfield; and |
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| 12 | 12 | | 10 WHEREAS, Drinda O'Connor worked for the State of Illinois |
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| 13 | 13 | | 11 for 24 years; for 15 of those years, she served as deputy chief |
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| 14 | 14 | | 12 operations officer with the Illinois Department of Human |
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| 15 | 15 | | 13 Services (IDHS), where she managed the State of Illinois' |
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| 16 | 16 | | 14 largest leased property portfolio; prior to working at IDHS, |
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| 17 | 17 | | 15 she served as director of Citizens Assistance and Community |
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| 18 | 18 | | 16 Affairs for both Governor James Thompson and Governor Jim |
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| 19 | 19 | | 17 Edgar; and |
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| 20 | 20 | | 18 WHEREAS, Drinda O'Connor was very active in her community, |
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| 21 | 21 | | 19 volunteering her time and efforts to many organizations; she |
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| 22 | 22 | | 20 was a former elected trustee and chairman of the board of |
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| 23 | 23 | | 21 Lincoln Land Community College, an appointed commissioner of |
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| 24 | 24 | | 22 the Springfield Airport Authority, a trustee of the Sangamon |
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| 28 | 28 | | SR0404 LRB103 33238 LAW 63047 r |
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| 33 | 33 | | 1 County Water Reclamation District, president of the World |
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| 34 | 34 | | 2 Affairs Council of Central Illinois, one of the seven |
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| 35 | 35 | | 3 commissioners to oversee the Attorney Registration and |
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| 36 | 36 | | 4 Disciplinary Commission, and treasurer of the Sangamon County |
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| 37 | 37 | | 5 Republican Foundation, where she planned all fundraising |
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| 38 | 38 | | 6 events and chaired dozens of fundraisers for numerous local |
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| 39 | 39 | | 7 and statewide candidates; and |
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| 40 | 40 | | 8 WHEREAS, Drinda O'Connor was also involved in numerous |
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| 41 | 41 | | 9 other social groups, clubs, and committees, including |
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| 42 | 42 | | 10 Sunnyside, Together Women Rise, and the Sangamon County |
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| 43 | 43 | | 11 Republican Women; and |
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| 44 | 44 | | 12 WHEREAS, Drinda O'Connor lived a full life; her love for |
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| 45 | 45 | | 13 travel led her to more than 30 countries, including Japan, |
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| 46 | 46 | | 14 China, Africa, Jordan, Cuba, Norway, Switzerland, and Egypt; |
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| 47 | 47 | | 15 she loved reading and learning about family history; and |
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| 48 | 48 | | 16 WHEREAS, Drinda O'Connor was a kind, generous soul, with a |
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| 49 | 49 | | 17 personality that could light up any room; she was happiest |
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| 50 | 50 | | 18 when spending time with her family, and she was affectionately |
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| 51 | 51 | | 19 known as "Gaga" to her granddaughter, Addi; she will be |
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| 52 | 52 | | 20 remembered for her love of family and friends; and |
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| 53 | 53 | | 21 WHEREAS, Drinda O'Connor was preceded in death by her |
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| 54 | 54 | | 22 parents and her brother, Jimmy Wayne Hicks; and |
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| 60 | 60 | | SR0404 - 2 - LRB103 33238 LAW 63047 r |
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| 65 | 65 | | 1 WHEREAS, Drinda O'Connor is survived by her daughters, |
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| 66 | 66 | | 2 Kelly Anne Sweeton and Julie K. (Duane) Warrens; her |
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| 67 | 67 | | 3 granddaughter, Addison Elizabeth "Addi" Warrens; her siblings, |
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| 68 | 68 | | 4 Carolyn Sue Reavis, Forrest Lee (the late Sally) Hicks, Deena |
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| 69 | 69 | | 5 Charlene Barnett, Billy Jo (Connie) Hicks, and Paul Jason |
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| 70 | 70 | | 6 Hicks; and a multitude of nieces, nephews, and cousins; |
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| 71 | 71 | | 7 therefore, be it |
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| 72 | 72 | | 8 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL |
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| 73 | 73 | | 9 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of |
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| 74 | 74 | | 10 Drinda L. O'Connor and extend our sincere condolences to her |
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| 75 | 75 | | 11 family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it |
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| 76 | 76 | | 12 further |
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| 77 | 77 | | 13 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be |
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| 78 | 78 | | 14 presented to the family of Drinda O'Connor as an expression of |
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| 79 | 79 | | 15 our deepest sympathy. |
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