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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Denise Frances Ritschel of Peoria, who
4passed away on November 24, 2010; and
 
5    WHEREAS, She was born on January 2, 1919, in Clare, Iowa,
6to Daniel and Geneva Coleman; she was the third child in a
7family of eight children steeped in farming, politics, and
8music; Denise graduated with honors from St. Matthews High
9School, being recognized for debate and writing; she had hoped
10to attend college to study journalism, but was sent instead to
11business school in Des Moines, Iowa; and
 
12    WHEREAS, She belonged to a business sorority which
13sponsored social events with other schools; at a dance, she met
14Jerome Leroy Ritschel and they were married on May 15, 1939;
15and
 
16    WHEREAS, Her avocation was music; she sang with several big
17bands, including the Tommy Dorsey Band when she was in Iowa;
18she turned her love of music into a passion of bringing the
19arts to Peoria; devoted and committed to the city of Peoria,
20she served proudly in many civic organizations, including the
21Peoria Amateur Musical Club and the Symphony Guild, and was a
22co-founder of the Peoria Civic Opera; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, She was active in the Historical Society and
2Lakeview; she served on the National Board of PBS; in the
31960s, she traveled often to New York to help in the launching
4of Sesame Street on the public television network; in her later
5years, Denise worked on developing her skills in the writing of
6poems and children's stories; she was a member of St. Vincent
7de Paul Church; and
 
8    WHEREAS, She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerome;
9her sisters, Dolores Hogan Rowe, Dorothy Ryan, and Patty
10Coleman; and her brother, Joe Coleman; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Denise Ritschel is survived by her sons, Michael
12(Marcia) and Thomas (Debbie); her daughter, Patricia (Richard
13Trifilo); her grandchildren, Patrick Ritschel (Tammie), Brian
14Ritschel, Daniel Ritschel (Tamiko), Timothy Ritschel, Meg
15Ritschel Harkins (Frank), Gregory Trifilo (Megan), and Colleen
16Trifilo Mruzik (Jim); her great-grandchildren, Andrew
17(Jennifer), Josh, Angelina, Samantha, Katie, Michael,
18Jonathan, Fiona, and Quinn; her sisters, Marcia Castricone and
19Karen Tuohy; and her brother, Daniel Coleman II; therefore, be
20it
 
21    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
22ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with

 

 

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1her family and friends, the passing of Denise Ritschel; and be
2it further
 
3    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
4presented to the family of Denise Ritschel as a symbol of our
5sincere sympathy.