SR0154 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0154 LRB102 17550 ECR 23192 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Linda A. Braun of Country Club Hills, who passed away on February 21, 2021 at the age of 73; and

WHEREAS, Linda Braun and her husband of 50 years, Fred, were residents of Country Club Hills for more than 45 years; they met and fell in love during a company bowling league and quickly formed a partnership on the drag strip, as Fred raced his car and she led his pit crew; their love of family, sports, and civic service was a road map for their lives; and

WHEREAS, A mentor to many, Linda Braun often loudly praised those whom she unknowingly inspired to become great leaders and engaged community citizens through her example of volunteering to countless local organizations; she rose from assistant Brownie leader to a regional head of the Girl Scouts; she was the first to introduce and implement the Daisy Girl Scout program for the Chicago area; she became PTA President and ran the Cougars football cheerleading program before taking on a leadership role in the Hillcrest Booster Club; and

WHEREAS, Linda Braun's public service spanned all ages with a focus on seniors in recent years; the culmination of her community stewardship materialized when she created a community of support for seniors called the Country Club Hills OAK program in 2001; and

WHEREAS, While Linda Braun began each professional challenge at an entry-level, she rose to leadership positions quickly; her career began as a switchboard operator at Joanna Western Mills where her father, husband, and many other family members worked; after becoming a mother, she sought part-time jobs to keep her kids involved in community activities; many remember her as being the school crossing guard and a lunchroom mom; she eventually combined her religious and community passions into several roles with St. Emeric, Country Club Hills, and Bremen Township; and

WHEREAS, Among her many roles at St. Emeric, Linda Braun served as parish secretary, parish office manager, Eucharistic minister, and as a religious education teacher; she taught herself accounting to manage the parish office and eventually run a budget as a program manager at OAK; along the way, she took minutes at hundreds of city council and commission meetings while always looking for ways to help; and

WHEREAS, Linda Braun was an invaluable and engaging leader, mentor, teacher, and role model to scores of family and friends; she was a devoted citizen who cared deeply for her family and friends and enhanced the life and quality of her community around her; and

WHEREAS, Linda Braun was preceded in death by her son and his wife, Fred and Hellen Braun; and

WHEREAS, Linda Braun is survived by her husband, Fred J. Braun; her children, Jennifer (Michael) Denton, Lynn Braun, John Braun, Kathrynne (the late Glen) Skonicki, and Valerie (Neal Zokan) Braun-Zokan; her grandchildren, Sandra (Nick) Sturgeon, Christina Denton, Michael Denton, Ashley Denton, Cameron Braun, Cameree Braun, Angela Skonicki, Katy Skonicki, and David Skonicki; her great-grandchildren, Sonia and Charlotte Sturgeon; her sister, Rosemarie (the late Kasper) Norkus; her sister-in-law, Marian (the late John) Lukshas; and countless others who lovingly called her "Mrs. Braun"; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Linda A. Braun and send our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and to all who knew and loved her; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of the resolution be presented to the family of Linda A. Braun as an expression of our deepest sympathy.