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92_SR0335
LRB9216239BHbh
1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3 to learn of the death Margaret Estella Coombs, formerly of
4 Winfield, who passed away February 2, 2002; and
5 WHEREAS, Mrs. Coombs was born August 28, 1922, in
6 Chicago, the daughter of Jacob and Stella Wolter; and
7 WHEREAS, Mrs. Coombs grew up in Chicago and attended
8 local schools; she was very involved in her parish, St.
9 Augustine's; and
10 WHEREAS, Margaret Coombs was widely known for her
11 beautiful operatic voice, singing at church, at area events
12 and on the Chicago stage; she declined an an invitation to
13 audition for the New York Metropolitan Opera so that she
14 could stay home and raise her family; and
15 WHEREAS, Mrs. Coombs married her husband, Robert, on
16 December 26, 1942; they lived in Chicago for the birth of
17 their first three children, later moving to Batavia, where
18 two more children followed; in 1957, the family moved to
19 Winfield, where they lived for 40 years; and
20 WHEREAS, Mrs. Coombs was a co-founder of the first
21 Winfield Public Library and was active in St. John the
22 Baptist parish; she served as "First Lady of Winfield" when
23 Mr. Coombs was elected president of Winfield for two terms,
24 beginning in 1963; they built a summer home in Wisconsin in
25 1979 and moved there permanently in 1994; they recently
26 celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary; and
27 WHEREAS, Mrs. Coombs and her husband were the founders of
28 the first Illinois Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children
29 following the murder of their youngest son in 1981; through
30 1986, when they retired as group leaders, they held monthly
31 meetings in their home for parents, siblings and other family
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1 members; and
2 WHEREAS, Margaret Coombs was cherished for her warmth and
3 tenderness toward all who crossed her threshold; she and
4 Robert were appointed by Illinois Attorney General Neil
5 Hartigan to serve on the state's first victims' rights task
6 force and were instrumental in the development of the first
7 victims' rights law in Illinois; they were also presented the
8 Lisa Hullinger Award by the national office of Parents of
9 Murdered Children for their service toward victim survivors
10 and also received a special award from the Mayor of Chicago
11 for their work on behalf of victims; and
12 WHEREAS, Mrs. Coombs's full-time job was making a loving
13 home for her husband and children; she was a wonderful cook
14 and an accomplished seamstress who especially loved to quilt;
15 Margaret Coombs carried her love of music throughout her
16 life; she was an avid reader who taught her children to love
17 books and owned hundreds of volumes; and
18 WHEREAS, Mrs. Coombs had many friends who sought her out
19 for her wonderful ability to listen, comfort, and offer sound
20 advice; she was quick to laugh and her warm, loving nature
21 was as easy to spot as the twinkle in her eye; and
22 WHEREAS, Margaret Estella Coombs will be deeply missed by
23 all those who knew her and loved her, especially by her
24 husband, Robert; her children, Carolyn Wines, Mary-Ellen
25 Coombs, Robert J. Coombs and Ralph (Kathryn) Coombs; her
26 grandchildren, Christine (Christopher) Borseau, Patricia
27 (James) Bockeloh, Matthew (Jennifer) Wines, Christopher
28 (Jennifer) Coombs, Christy Coombs, and Sarah Coombs; her
29 great-grandchildren, Jason, Brandon, Chelsea, Kolten, and
30 Brayden; and a family of friends; therefore, be it
31 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SECOND GENERAL
32 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
-3- LRB9216239BHbh
1 her family and friends, the death of Margaret Estella Coombs;
2 and be it further
3 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
4 presented to her husband, Robert Coombs.