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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to  
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learn of the death of
Madonna Wallace Weldon, who passed away 
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on January 11, 2008; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Madonna Weldon was born and raised in Chicago, the 
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daughter of the late William Dennis and Lorita, nee Meegan, 
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Wallace; she was a 1972 graduate of Mother McAuley High School; 
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she received her bachelor's degree in nursing in 1976 from St. 
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Theresa's College in Winona, Minnesota; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Madonna Weldon began her nursing career at 
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Prentice Women's Hospital in Chicago, where she worked until 
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she married her husband, Bill, in 1978; after Mr. and Mrs. 
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Weldon moved to New York City, Mrs. Weldon worked as a nurse in 
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a doctor's office in Manhattan; she left her job when she 
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started to have her children; the family later moved back to 
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the Chicago area; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Madonna Weldon devoted much of her time as a 
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mentor to inner-city children, mentoring four girls who were 
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Gallagher Scholars through the Big Shoulders Fund, a Chicago 
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agency that has donated $150 million to Chicago's Catholic 
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schools; she also started a program that linked the students of 
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Willard Elementary School in River Forest with area senior 
 


 






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citizens in order to help them experience intergenerational 
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connections; her Big Hearts, Little Hands program, a 
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Valentine's Day event where seniors from the community are 
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brought to the school for a tea, remains a highlight for the 
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students; and

 

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    WHEREAS, Madonna Weldon is survived by her husband, Bill; 
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her daughters, Erin, Elizabeth, and Caelan; her sons, Bill and 
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Conor; her sisters, Gail Goggin, Lesa Meyer, and Julie Hummel; 
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her brothers, Michael Wallace and Tony Wallace; her aunt, 
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Sister Elizabeth Meegan, O.P.; and her many nieces and nephews; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
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her family and friends, the passing of Madonna Weldon; and be 
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it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of Madonna Weldon as an expression of 
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our sympathy.