093_SR0255
LRB09313329DRH18613r
1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of
3 Illinois were saddened to learn of the death of Mary Ellen
4 Dougherty Ripper Schmitt, who served as West Peoria Township
5 clerk for 18 years, on Monday, September 15, 2003; and
6 WHEREAS, Mrs. Schmitt was born on January 14, 1918 in
7 Emington to Edward and Margaret Conroy Dougherty; and
8 WHEREAS, On October 25, 1941, Mrs. Schmitt married Walter
9 Armand Ripper, who died December 24, 1979; on August 17,
10 1985, she married Joseph T. Schmitt, who survives; and
11 WHEREAS, Mrs. Schmitt graduated from St. Francis School
12 of Nursing in 1939; she was the first lay supervisor of
13 pediatrics at the school; she taught pediatrics to nursing
14 students and later became assistant director of nursing
15 before retiring in 1983, after 26 years; and
16 WHEREAS, Mrs. Schmitt was the founder and first president
17 of the St. Francis Senior Saints; she was also a member of
18 St. Mark's Catholic Church in Peoria, the St. Francis
19 Auxiliary, the St. Francis Advisor Committee, the Catholic
20 Women's League, and the Visiting Nurse Association; and
21 WHEREAS, Mrs. Schmitt was a member of the Illinois
22 Township Officials, West Peoria Residents Association, West
23 Peoria Democrats, and Peoria County Democrats; and
24 WHEREAS, Mrs. Schmitt was preceded in death by 3
25 stepsons; 4 sisters; 3 brothers; and one step-grandchild; she
26 is survived by one daughter, Kathy (and Alex) Garcia; 2 sons,
27 James (and Melissa) Ripper and Robert (and Rosanne) Ripper; 5
28 stepdaughters, Marilyn (and Louis) Scroggins, Joanie (and
29 Tom) Burke, Loretta Faley, Katie (and Bruce) Boyer, and Ginny
30 (and Jim) Verdun; 2 stepsons, Thomas (and Mary Lynne) Schmitt
31 and Paul Schmitt; 10 grandchildren; 30 step-grandchildren; 21
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1 great-grandchildren; 15 step-great-grandchildren; one
2 step-great-great-grandchild; one brother, Tom (and Lydia)
3 Dougherty; 3 sisters, Patricia Cutright, Agnes Neemers, and
4 Kathryn (and Mike) Lurz; and
5 WHEREAS, The passing of Mary Ellen Dougherty Ripper
6 Schmitt has been deeply felt by many, especially her family
7 and friends; therefore, be it
8 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL
9 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that together with her
10 friends and family, we mourn the passing of Mary Ellen
11 Dougherty Ripper Schmitt, and we extend to her friends and
12 family our deepest sympathy; and be it further
13 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
14 presented to the family of Mary Ellen Dougherty Ripper
15 Schmitt as an expression of our sincere condolences during
16 their time of loss.