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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Doņa Maria Luisa Valdez Espinoza, who
4passed away on July 4, 2023; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Maria Luisa Valdez was born in La Merced,
6Municipio de Manuel Doblado, Guanajuato, Mexico on August 25,
71935; she was the daughter of Timoteo and Rufina Espinoza; she
8married Jesus Valdez in 1953, and they moved to San Pablo and
9had nine children, Benjamin, Pedro, Alejo, Beto, Jesus, Juan,
10Maria, Julio Cesar, and Sandro; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Maria Luisa Valdez cared for and managed her
12growing family while her husband traveled back and forth from
13the United States and Mexico as a migrant worker; after saving
14enough money, they bought a hacienda together with land and
15animals, where she created and maintained a successful and
16fruitful property; she and her family left the farm and moved
17to the larger city of Leon to pursue more educational
18opportunities for their children in 1971; she then moved her
19six younger children to Elgin, Illinois to join her husband
20and two older sons in 1973; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Maria Luisa Valdez created multiple small
22businesses in addition to raising nine children, running a

 

 

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1large household, and migrating to another country; she bought
2and sold gold, sourced secondhand clothes to sell in Mexico,
3and established a very affordable childcare center out of her
4home in Elgin for her neighbors and the community; she
5provided housing for people who were migrating from Mexico and
6starting new lives in the United States, and she also opened
7her home to many family members from Mexico to give them the
8opportunity to study and learn English in the United States;
9her business ventures generated extra income to support her
10children, but more importantly, they were investments in
11building community and a sense of belonging for many people
12who were trying to start a new life in an unfamiliar place; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Maria Luisa Valdez and her husband were committed
14to providing their children with every educational opportunity
15available; despite having received no formal education
16herself, she raised highly educated children with developed
17entrepreneurial skills; her children built successful careers
18in banking, medicine, law, counseling, and technology; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Maria Luisa Valdez's vibrant personality, sharp
20wit, and incredible storytelling abilities made her a supreme
21host, and her home was the center of countless gatherings and
22parties; she prepared an extensive menu of delicious foods
23with love and tenderness, including gorditas de horno,
24handmade tortillas, a great variety of salsas, and café de

 

 

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1olla; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Maria Luisa Valdez was devoted to her faith, and
3she valued family and community above all else, creating a
4sense of belonging to all in need of a home; her love for all
5her grandchildren was boundless, and she enjoyed visiting them
6in California, Florida, and Mexico; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Maria Luisa Valdez had an impact on many lives
8during her lifetime, and she will continue to shape and
9transform people in her physical absence due to her strong
10spirit; she will be remembered for being a strong and powerful
11daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin, comadre,
12great-grandmother, and friend; therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
14ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
15Doņa Maria Luisa Valdez Espinoza and extend our sincere
16condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved
17her; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19presented to the family of Maria Luisa Valdez as an expression
20of our deepest sympathy.