SR0426 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0426 LRB094 14405 HSS 49336 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with regret of the death of Lauretta E. Opeka (nee Merlock) of Waukegan on Tuesday, August 2, 2005; and

WHEREAS, She was born on December 30, 1934, in Waukegan, where she was a lifelong resident and former member of Mother of God Church; she married Michael Opeka Jr. on June 25, 1955; and

WHEREAS, She retired in 1993 from the County of Lake, where she was Executive Assistant in the Purchasing Department; prior to working for Lake County, she was employed in the insurance industry and at Abbott Labs in North Chicago; and

WHEREAS, She was a member of St. Dismas Church in Waukegan, the Bonnie Brook Nine Hole Golf League, where she had held the positions of President and Secretary, the Waukegan Moose Lodge #706, and the Christian Mothers Auxiliary; her hobbies were golf, shopping, the QVC channel, art fairs, gardening, traveling, and enjoying lunches and dinners with friends and family, especially her grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Opeka was preceded in death by her husband, Michael, on June 20, 2003; her daughter, Victoria "Vicki" Opeka, on January 17, 1992; her brother, John Merlock, in 2003; and her father, John Merlock Sr., in 1992; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Lauretta E. Opeka has been deeply felt by many, especially her son, Michael (Cindy) Opeka, III; her daughter, Susan M. (Robert Byford) Opeka; her grandchildren, Robert and Lauren Opeka-Byford, and Shannon and Scott Opeka; her mother, Victoria Merlock (nee Jappel); her brother, Tom (Candie) Merlock; and her sisters-in-law, Ann and Jay Chamernik, Kay Opeka, and Judy Merlock; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Lauretta E. Opeka, and we 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 her family as an expression of our deepest sympathy.