HR0315 LRB095 11900 GRL 35092 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives wish to extend their condolences to the family
4 and friends of May Chesak of Woodstock, who passed away at the
5 age of 102 on March 22, 2007; and
 
6     WHEREAS, May Chesak was born on May 30, 1904, in West
7 Pullman, to Christian and Marie (Jensen) Spangard; she attended
8 Crystal Lake High School with the class of 1922 and then went
9 on to Mason County College in Ludington, Michigan; and
 
10     WHEREAS, She began her teaching career in 1923 in a
11 one-room schoolhouse in Fox River Grove; she continued teaching
12 there until 1943, when she became principal and teacher at
13 Huntley Elementary School; in 1952, Mrs. Chesak became
14 principal at Greenwood School; she retired in 1964, but she
15 substituted at eight different schools in the county for 10
16 years, teaching for a total of 51 years; and
 
17     WHEREAS, Mrs. Chesak married her husband Arnold (Arnie) on
18 July 27, 1927; she moved to Huntley and lived there for more
19 than 70 years; after Arnie passed away in 1985, May would play
20 her piano late into the night; in 1997 she moved to Hearthstone
21 Manor in Woodstock; and
 

 

 

HR0315 - 2 - LRB095 11900 GRL 35092 r

1     WHEREAS, In 1941, Mrs. Chesak joined First Congregational
2 Church in Huntley, where she served as Ladies Aid president for
3 15 years; among her other activities at the church were
4 teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir, serving as a
5 deaconess, and establishing the memorial fund that she chaired
6 for more than 40 years; and
 
7     WHEREAS, For more than 75 years, Mrs. Chesak served in many
8 roles as a member of the American Legion Auxiliary; one of her
9 treasured memories was establishing the Girls State program in
10 Huntley in 1948; she also served as vice president of the
11 McHenry County Council, president of the 11th District, State
12 Chaplain, assistant sergeant-at-arms, and staff adviser for
13 Girls State; she also was a charter member of the McHenry
14 County Salon No. 483 of the 8 et 40, serving in various
15 capacities; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Since 1952, she was involved in Delta Kappa Gamma
17 as a member, also serving on committees within the association;
18 other organizations of which she was a member include the
19 Retired Teachers Association of McHenry County; and membership
20 in IEAS, NEA, and the National Retired Teachers Association;
21 and
 
22     WHEREAS, Mrs. Chesak was involved in other community
23 activities including being an election judge for Grafton

 

 

HR0315 - 3 - LRB095 11900 GRL 35092 r

1 Township, a member of the Senior Citizens, and establishing the
2 Blood Bank in Huntley during the 1940s, which is still serving
3 the Huntley area today; while she enjoyed music, flower
4 gardening and reading, above all else her husband and home came
5 first; and
 
6     WHEREAS, For her many contributions to education and the
7 community, the May S. Chesak Elementary School on Reed Road in
8 Lake in the Hills was named in her honor in September 2000; and
 
9     WHEREAS, May Chesak was the beloved wife of Arnold "Arnie"
10 Chesak and is fondly remembered by many nieces, nephews,
11 cousins, and friends; therefore, be it
 
12     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
13 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
14 recognize May 30, 2007, as May Chesak Day in Illinois; and be
15 it further
 
16     RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
17 presented to the family of May Chesak and to Hearthstone Manor
18 in Woodstock, as an expression of our sincere sympathy.