SR2258 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR2258 LRB100 24433 MST 43748 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Therese "Terry" DesCoteaux, who passed away on December 7, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Terry DesCoteaux was born to Bernadette Chouinard and Joseph Letendre on December 19, 1927 and grew up in Lowell, Massachusetts; affectionately known as "Smiley" when she was young, her family moved to Lakewood, Ohio and then West Chester, Pennsylvania; by the 70s, they had settled in Geneva; and

WHEREAS, Terry DesCoteaux helped bring Meals on Wheels to the Fox Valley area; she helped with the Geneva PTA and Fox Valley Hospice and worked as a prolific fundraiser for Tri-City Family Services and the Illinois Chamber Symphony; and

WHEREAS, Terry DesCoteaux eventually found her true calling in politics and dedicated over 40 years of her life to it; she was particularly proud of the commotion she caused at St. Peter's Catholic School in 1982 when, under cover of night, her White House Advance team landed a military helicopter on the lawn; she beamed as she took President Reagan to visit the St. Peter's students; for decades she was referred to as "Mrs. D" on the campaign trail and around the Fox Valley area; and

WHEREAS, In 1989, Terry DesCoteaux received recognition from the Eastview Women's Resource Center and Delnor Community Hospital for her contributions to the Tri-Cities area; she was also awarded the Harold Byron Smith Award for extraordinary volunteerism in 1997; and

WHEREAS, Terry DesCoteaux's love for people shaped everything she did; her kitchen was a gathering place for family and friends; she was known to dance on tables, sing loudly in French with her sisters, and occasionally throw a snowball or two at her grandkids; she was a master of building forts out of blankets and pillows; and

WHEREAS, Terry DesCoteaux was preceded in death by her husband, Paul; her infant daughter, Elizabeth Rose; her infant son, David Claude; her granddaughters, Josephine and Margaret Rogowski; her sisters, Rita Paquin, Janet Baril, and Pauline Letendre; and her brothers, William Letendre and Arthur Letendre; and

WHEREAS, Terry DesCoteaux is survived by her children, Denise Fauntleroy and her sons with David Fauntleroy, Patrick (Caitlin) and Andrew Fauntleroy, Paul Wm. (Kerith) DesCoteaux and their son, Reinier, Andrea DesCoteaux, David A. DesCoteaux and his daughter with Beverly DesCoteaux, Emily, Aimee (Dan) Rogowski and their daughter, Eleanor; her great-granddaughter, Hadley Fauntleroy; her sister, Gertrude DesRoches; her brothers, Alfred (Georgette) and Edward (Sharon) Letendre; and many nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Therese "Terry" DesCoteaux 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 Terry DesCoteaux as an expression of our deepest sympathy.