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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Vater Mae Fite, who passed away on
4January 17, 2019; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Vater Fite was born in Carthage, Texas to Marvin
6and Selma Connor on September 28, 1914; she was baptized at the
7age of 7 at Mt. Zion CME Church in Carthage; she attended
8Carthage Colored High School and was a lifelong student; she
9married J.C. Lilly; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Vater Fite moved to California during World War II
11and worked as a welder of Navy battleship parts; she was proud
12of the distinction of being a female welder; she married Grady
13Fite; in 1950, upon the death of her second husband and the
14conclusion of WWII, she settled in Maywood to be near her
15children; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Vater Fite worked for the State of Illinois as a
17senior caregiver and retired after 30 years of service; she
18returned to Texas to be a caregiver to her mother until her
19passing; she then returned to Oak Park to reside with her
20sister; in 2015, she moved to Plainfield, where she resided for
21several years with her son and daughter-in-law; she then moved
22to Alden of Waterford in Aurora; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Vater Fite was a wonderful cook, loved music, and
2had a wry sense of humor; she pursued many artistic endeavors,
3including teaching herself to play the violin, sewing,
4sculpting, wood carving, and painting; she attended courses at
5the Art Institute of Chicago to master the art of watercolor
6and oil painting; she participated in local art programs and
7her work was recognized in the Oak Leaves newspaper; she was a
8Featured Artist at the New Oak Park Public Library and was an
9active member of the Oak Park Arms senior group and the Oak
10Park Arts Council; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Vater Fite was remembered on her 100th birthday by
12the Governor of Illinois and President of the United States
13Barack Obama; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Vater Fite was affectionately known as "Grand";
15she was an avid reader and loved to travel; she was a lifelong
16baseball fan and cheered on her favorite team, the Chicago
17Cubs, as they won the World Series in 2016; she enjoyed family
18gatherings filled with music, games, debates, and a good nip of
19gin; she was present at every family milestone, vacation, and
20holiday; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Vater Fite lived long enough to see her
22great-great-grandchildren and to become matriarch of a large

 

 

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1extended family that includes Illinois State Representative
2Camille Lilly and great-grandson Evan Turner, a basketball
3phenom at St. Joseph High School in Westchester and who plays
4in the NBA for the Portland Trail Blazers; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Vater Fite was preceded in death by her parents;
6her husband, Grady; her siblings, Herese, Inez, and Leon; her
7daughters, Vater Jo, Billie June, and Gloria Marvis; and her
8grandson, Darius LeRoi Lilly; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Vater Fite is survived by her son, LeRoy (Barbara)
10Lilly; her grandchildren, Jerome Goodman, Iris James, Camille
11Lilly, Brian Lilly, Karen (Jasmyn) Lilly, Kevin Neal (Jackie),
12and April Braggs (Vincent); her great-grandchildren, Richard,
13Darius, Evan, Briana, VJ, Briaja, and Brian II; her
14great-great-grandchildren, Richard II and Aubrey; her nieces,
15Joy Bell and Melody Conners; and numerous great-nieces and
16nephews; therefore, be it
 
17    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
18ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
19Vater Mae Fite and extend our sincere condolences to her
20family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it
21further
 
22    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be

 

 

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1presented to the family of Vater Fite as an expression of our
2deepest sympathy.