SR0373LRB102 18867 LAW 27586 r


  
1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened 
3to learn of the death of Sister M. Felicity Gaffney, OSF, who 
4passed away on June 5, 2021; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Sister Felicity was born in Powell, Ohio to Irene 
6(Spring) and James Gaffney in 1921; she was a member of St. 
7Mary Magdalen Parish in Columbus and attended the parish 
8school; she graduated from St. Mary of the Springs High School 
9in Columbus; she obtained her bachelor's degree in French from 
10the College of St. Francis, now known as the University of St. 
11Francis, in Joliet; she earned her Master of Arts in Education 
12from DePaul University in Chicago; she attended the Franciscan 
13Institute in Theology at the College of St. Francis in Joliet; 
14she took courses in Spanish at the University of Colorado in 
15Boulder; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, Sister Felicity ministered in the field of 
17education, teaching at various high schools for over 50 years; 
18she began her teaching ministry at St. Francis Academy, now 
19known as Joliet Catholic Academy, in 1943, where she taught 
20English and Spanish; she taught at the majority of high 
21schools that the Joliet Franciscans staffed in Illinois and 
22Ohio; she taught in schools from California to Florida and in 
23schools of diverse cultures, including Indian, Mexican, rural, 
 
 
SR0373- 2 -LRB102 18867 LAW 27586 r

1inner city, private academy, parish schools for girls, co-ed 
2city wide parish schools, large diocesan high schools, and a 
3GED program; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, Sister Felicity was preceded in death by her 
5parents; her brothers, George, James, and Paul; and her 
6sisters, Margaret Lombard, Gertrude Caldwell, Bernie Olsen, 
7Dorothy Thornton, Betty DeJohn, and Mary Waldo; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Sister Felicity was a treasured member of the 
9Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate for 81 years; 
10therefore, be it
  
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL 
12ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
13Sister M. Felicity Gaffney, OSF, and extend our sincere 
14condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved 
15her; and be it further
  
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
17presented to the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate as 
18an expression of our deepest sympathy.