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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Joanna Bernadine Vanni on January 8, 2019
4at the age of 87; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Joanna Vanni was born to Frank and Mary
6Breckenridge Kirchgessner in Metamora; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Joanna Vanni was a graduate of the Metamora High
8School Class of 1948 and Rosary College, now Dominican
9University, Class of 1952; she completed master's level
10coursework at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago; in
111954, she married Steno Vanni at St. Mary's Church in Metamora;
12and
 
13    WHEREAS, Joanna Vanni was a talented pianist and organist
14who worked as a church organist in the Oak Park and River
15Forest communities her entire adult life, including 33 years at
16St. Vincent Ferrer, followed by time at St. Giles Church,
17Euclid Avenue United Methodist Church, and River Forest United
18Methodist Church, from which she retired in 2016; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Joanna Vanni was, for many people, "a part of
20special events in our lives such as weddings, baptisms,
21concerts and special activities"; her music touched people;

 

 

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1often, her audience clapped their hands as she played a fast
2and upbeat piece, and many were deeply moved by the spiritual
3classic music she played; she was always willing to share her
4special gift of music; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Joanna Vanni was a lifelong lover and supporter of
6the arts as a member of the Art Institute of Chicago, the
7Chicago Architectural Foundation, and the Guild of American
8Organists; she also was a season ticket holder to the Chicago
9Symphony Orchestra, the Lyric Opera, and the Joffrey Ballet for
10decades; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Joanna Vanni loved animals and donated generously
12to numerous animal rescue organizations; she was known to spoil
13her "granddogs" and "grandkitties" with reckless abandon,
14happily noting that she could do so because they did not have
15to grow up to be responsible adults; and
 
16    WHEREAS, In addition to her musical endeavors, Joanna Vanni
17worked full time as an insurance claims administrator for
18Employers Insurance of Wausau for 23 years, where she formed
19lifelong friendships with many of her co-workers; she often
20commuted to work by bicycle rather than drive in busy Oak Park
21traffic; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Joanna Vanni, in her retirement years, traveled

 

 

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1extensively in the United States and Europe; she particularly
2enjoyed visiting many of the great cathedrals in Europe, taking
3special notice of their organs along the way; as a devout
4Catholic, these trips fulfilled her both spiritually and
5musically; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Joanna Vanni was preceded in death by her loving
7husband, Steno; her daughter, Sylvia Candela; and her siblings,
8Fr. Julius Kirchgessner, Gene Elbert, Albert Kirchgessner, and
9Isabel and Anna Belle Kirchgessner; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Joanna Vanni is survived by her children, Paul
11Vanni, Bill Vanni (Lori), Jim Vanni (Julie), and Jane
12Vanni-Noone (Kevin); and her grandchildren Chrissy (Ben),
13Stanley, and Aidan; therefore, be it
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
15ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
16Joanna Bernadine Vanni and extend our sincere condolences to
17her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it
18further
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20presented to the family of Joanna Vanni as an expression of our
21deepest sympathy.