SR2172 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR2172 LRB100 23934 MST 43007 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Rosann Gelvin Noel of Champaign on October 4, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Rosann Noel was born in Champaign to Mabery and H.I. Gelvin on January 22, 1932; she graduated from Champaign High School in 1949 as a member the "49ers"; she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Illinois, where she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority and remained active in the alum group for many years; she married Richard Morrissey Noel on November 28, 1953; and

WHEREAS, In the 1970s, Rosann Noel began a career in fashion; she opened a women's boutique called Con Brio in her husband's store, Noel Fashions, which was located in the Illinois building, previously housing W. Lewis & Company; when Noel Fashions closed, she relocated and continued the business for 10 years; and

WHEREAS, As her son, Tony, battled kidney disease, Rosann Noel became involved with the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois (NKFI); she and her husband started the Tony Noel Research Foundation; she later was a member of the board of trustees at NKFI for three decades and served as president for a term; she was a member for several years of the National Kidney, Urology and Diabetes Advisory Board for the National Institutes of Health; she and her husband also started the local chapter of the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Rosann Noel and Richard enjoyed traveling across Europe; this led her to start a business called the Chelsea Traveller; they also enjoyed art and became devoted donors to the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and the Krannert Art Museum; Rosann was a charter member of the Krannert Art Museum Council and served as president for a term; and

WHEREAS, Rosann Noel had a love of gardening and, with her brother, Phil, donated the Gelvin Gardens at Krannert Art Museum in honor of their parents; she also planned and donated the Welcome Garden at the entrance to the University of Illinois Arboretum and dedicated it to her four grandchildren; she created an ongoing charitable gift to Mabery Gelvin Gardens at the Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, her father's favorite place; and

WHEREAS, Rosann Noel and her husband enjoyed wintering at their home on the island of Sint Maarten in the Caribbean, where she gardened with tropical plants; they also spent lengthy visits to their home on the Sonoma Coast of California, where she enjoyed gardening in Mediterranean style; they enjoyed many wonderful Thanksgiving vacations in California with family; and

WHEREAS, Rosann Noel was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Philip; her son, Anthony Thomas Noel (Deena); and her nephew, Doug Gelvin; and

WHEREAS, Rosann Noel is survived by her husband, Dick; her nieces, Susan, Nancy, and Linda; her sons, Daniel Morrissey Noel (Robin) and Matthew Gelvin Noel (Nancy); her grandchildren, Vincent and Raymond and Tony's Mary and her brother, Nicholas; her stepgrandchildren, Rachel and Kathryn Swindle, Jeremy and Kerry Wuerfel, and Casey and Logan Horberg; and her stepgreat-grandchildren, Peyton and Joren Wuerfel; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Rosann Gelvin Noel 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 Rosann Noel as an expression of our deepest sympathy.