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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives were saddened to learn of the death of Emilia
4Pontarelli, who passed away on April 10, 2020 due to
5complications from the new coronavirus; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Emilia Pontarelli was born in Rocchetta a
7Volturno, Italy on March 22, 1927, the second of eight
8children; she grew up Emilia Neri in the province of Isernia;
9and
 
10    WHEREAS, As a girl growing up in Italy, Emilia Pontarelli
11herded animals, goats, and sheep by herself, taking them up and
12down the mountain, running circles around everyone; and
 
13    WHEREAS, When the Germans occupied Emilia Pontarelli's
14town, they commandeered the Neri home as well as other
15families' homes in the village; on one occasion during this
16time when she was still a youth, she was held back by family
17members after confronting a German soldier who had confiscated
18her pet goat for dinner; and
 
19    WHEREAS, When the Nazis' bombing began, Emilia Pontarelli
20joined the local residents and sought refuge in caves in the
21mountains where they had to stay quiet to survive; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Emilia Pontarelli married Vincenzo Pontarelli,
2and they started their family; in 1967, they immigrated to
3Chicago in search of more opportunities for their three
4children, Tony, Maria, and Anna; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Even though Emilia Pontarelli moved to Chicago,
6she never indulged in a hot dog throughout her entire life
7because the Germans would eat them out of tin cans during the
8occupation; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Emilia Pontarelli's son, Tony, opened a deli in
101978, which was then purchased by his sister, Maria, and her
11husband, Vito, in 1980; Emilia could often be found stationed
12behind the cash register, which she began operating in the
131980s; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Because of Emilia Pontarelli's vibrant
15personality and cooking skills, the deli became a cornerstone
16in the northwest side Italian-American community known as
17Edison Park; and
 
18    WHEREAS, In her 90s, Emilia Pontarelli challenged her
19son-in-law to arm wrestle to show she still had the strength
20that had enabled her to climb the mountains in her hometown of
21Rocchetta a Volturno; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Emilia Pontarelli was preceded in death by her
2husband, Vincenzo; her daughter, Anna; her grandson, Freddie;
3her brother, Cori; and her sister, Gina; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Emilia Pontarelli is survived by her children,
5Tony and Maria; her sister, Amalia; her brothers, Michael,
6Antonio, Giovanni, and Pasquale; eight grandchildren; and 14
7great-grandchildren; and
 
8    WHEREAS, The surviving siblings, children, grandchildren,
9and great-grandchildren of Emilia Pontarelli can be proud of
10the legacy and lasting impact their mother, sister,
11grandmother, and great-grandmother had on the community that
12dined in her daughter's deli; therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
14HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
15we mourn the passing of Emilia Pontarelli and extend our
16sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew
17and loved her; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
19presented to the family of Emilia Pontarelli and Tony's Italian
20Deli as an expression of our deepest sympathy and in
21appreciation for her devotion to her community.