SR0578 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0578 LRB101 13273 ALS 62114 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Nancy J. "Nonie" Froelich of Bloomington, who passed away on July 17, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Nancy Froelich was born in Bloomington to Oscar George and Catherine Karr Hoose on November 6, 1930; she married William E. Froelich Jr. on November 25, 1950; and

WHEREAS, Nancy Froelich was a licensed funeral director for over 50 years and was a strong support to her husband and Froelich Memorial Homes and Heritage Enterprises; disappointed that she did not complete her college degree, she returned to school at the age of 59 and received her bachelor's degree from Eastern Illinois University in 1989; and

WHEREAS, Nancy Froelich was active in many public service organizations, including the Gridley School Board, where she helped develop the Tri-County Special Education District; she served on various higher education boards, including the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities, where she was chairman from 1984 until 1989, the Illinois Board of Higher Education's Citizens' Advisory Board, the Board of Higher Education, the State University Retirement System Board, and the ISU Board of Trustees; she served on the McLean County Board, where she served as board chair during the mid-1980s growth spurt and economic expansion of McLean County, and was instrumental in preserving the Old Courthouse, helping to transform it into the McLean County Museum of History; she served as secretary on the Museum's Board of Directors for many years and was a strong advocate for its growth; she served on the Board of the Mennonite College of Nursing and was a recipient of an honorary nursing degree for "her dedicated interest, support and understanding of the profession of nursing"; Mennonite School of Nursing said, "she was a builder, leader and role model for women in leadership"; and

WHEREAS, Nancy Froelich received many honors, including the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, the IWU Distinguished Alumni Business & Professional Woman of the Year Award, the Bloomington Rotary's Paul Harris Fellow Award, the State of Illinois Preservation Award, the ISU John Maitland Jr. Commitment to Education Award, and the McLean County Mayors' Association Person of the Year Award and was named as a History Maker by the McLean County Museum; she was twice elected as a delegate to the Republican National Convention; and

WHEREAS, Nancy Froelich was committed to her faith and to Christ Community of Gridley; she served as the moderator of the First United Church of Gridley from 1978 until 1982, when the Congregational and Methodist Churches merged and the new church was built; she highly valued her relationships with those she served and her community in Gridley and McLean County; she was a builder and a leader who worked to make the community a place where people could come together to grow and to share in the benefits of a strong educational and working foundation; she had a deep love for her family and taught them many valuable lessons about life; and

WHEREAS, Nancy Froelich was preceded in death by her husband, William, and her son, William E. Froelich III; and

WHEREAS, Nancy Froelich is survived by her children, Susan (Paul) Laiming, Craig (Barbara) Froelich, and David (Kathy) Froelich; her grandchildren, Paul (Melissa) Laiming, Katie (Shannon) Bachelor, Will (Shauna) Froelich, Nicholas (Brandi) Froelich, Churchill and John Froelich, Alex, Abbey, and Gabe Froelich, and Jake and Matt Froelich; her great-grandchildren, Sam, Anna, and Grace Bachelor, Abi, Esther, Paul III, Tuke, Asher, Kias, and Cru Laiming, Lani May, William IV (Buddy) Froelich, Annabelle and River Froelich, and Jasmyn Froelich; her sister, Susan Jefferson; and her nephews, Paul and Tim Jefferson and Rush Holt Jr.; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Nancy J. "Nonie" Froelich and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

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