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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Janet Denise Kelly, who passed away on
4April 11, 2021; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Janet Kelly was born in Chicago to Rev. Robert
6and Marie Kelly on October 3, 1955; she committed to her faith
7at an early age and later joined Cathedral Missionary Baptist
8Church; she grew up singing the gospel in the church choir and
9alongside her gifted sisters, known as The Kelly Sisters; she
10attended John Farren Elementary School and Jean Baptiste
11Pointe DuSable Upper Grade Center; in 1973, she graduated from
12Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable High School, where she was active
13in numerous clubs and especially enjoyed playing the clarinet
14in the band and being a member of the cheerleading and pom-pom
15squads; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Janet Kelly received her Bachelor of Science in
17Child and Family Services in 1979 from Southern Illinois
18University-Carbondale, where she became a member of Sigma
19Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. in 1974; she received her Master of
20Social Work from Chicago State University in 2006; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Janet Kelly was instrumental in choreographing
22some of Sigma's most memorable on-campus performances at SIU

 

 

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1from 1975 to 1978; she and four college friends entered Kappa
2Karnival's annual talent show and called themselves Sax Fifth
3Avenue; upon returning home to Chicago, she continued singing
4and established a group known as The Goddesses, which
5performed at local venues across the city; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Janet Kelly loved working with children,
7especially as the morning and after-school coordinator; her
8positions included ABJ Community Services (Licensing and
9Permanency Specialist, Case Manager), Metropolitan Family
10Services (Resource/Program Coordinator, Practitioner), and
11Catholic Charities & Heartland Human Services (Case Manager);
12she mentored, produced, and directed many musicals and plays
13to raise funds for several agencies over the years; she
14especially enjoyed producing the adaptation of The Wiz; she
15retired from the social services field in 2019; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Janet Kelly spread the gospel across the airwaves
17on WVON radio station every Sunday at 7 p.m. for 25 years with
18the Mother Meatchem Radio Choir; she sang background vocals
19for recording artists and was a trained pianist and played the
20clarinet; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Janet Kelly's hobbies included playing tennis,
22interior decorating, and making jewelry; she worked part time
23for Park Lane Jewelry and was an avid collector of art; for

 

 

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1several years she was an art consultant for Artistic
2Impressions; her ultimate hobby was shopping, and QVC and HSN
3were two of her favorite channels; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Janet Kelly thoughtfulness held no bounds when it
5came to family; if a family member was in need, she would
6forsake her wants to make sure that their needs were met; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Janet Kelly was preceded in death by her parents
8and her sister, Renee Kelly; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Janet Kelly is survived by her daughter, Janea
10Smith; her grandson, Jamari White; her sisters, Diane
11(Lawrence) Kent and Rev. Debra Kelly; her brother, Bernard
12Kelly; her half-brother, Ricky (Barbara) Kelly; her
13half-sister, Linda Kelly; her cousin, Bill (Dee Dee) Driver;
14her nephews, Juan Gordon, Corey Criss Sr. (Tammy), Doniel
15Kelly (godson), and Darren Kelly; her nieces, Keena (Norris)
16Robinson and Robin Thacker; her great-nieces and nephews; her
17best friend, Sandra R. Kelly; her special friend, Arnold
18"Ernie" McBlackwell; her close friend, Gloria Styles; and
19numerous friends that she loved dearly; therefore, be it
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
21ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
22Janet Denise Kelly and extend our sincere condolences to her

 

 

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1family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it
2further
 
3    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
4presented to the family of Janet Kelly as an expression of our
5deepest sympathy.