SR0894 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0894 LRB102 26578 ECR 37288 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Marion LyNell "Nell" Rice of Wauconda, who passed away on February 19, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Nell Rice was born on April 3, 1952; she earned her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from Western Michigan University and her Master of Education in Curriculum Development and Instruction from National Louis University; she was a resident of Lake County since 1983, beginning in Vernon Hills before she moved to Wauconda; and

WHEREAS, Nell Rice worked as an occupational therapist at Sparrow Rehab Center in Michigan, where she provided services to closed head injury and stroke patients before working with children with special disabilities; after leaving the healthcare field, she purchased a fast food franchise that she maintained for approximately seven years before selling it; and

WHEREAS, Nell Rice took a position in the banking industry as director of Training for a major call center in 1998; she moved through the organization and ended her career as vice president of Operations, where she was responsible for three 24x7 call centers, with a staff of four call center managers, six supervisors, 10 team leads, and approximately 1,000 call center representatives; and

WHEREAS, Nell Rice purchased Debbie's Floral Shoppe in Mundelein on November 11, 2011; she ran the business as a floral boutique shop, providing floral services for call-in, online, and walk-in customers; and

WHEREAS, Nell Rice provided training opportunities for the SEDOL Program for Youth who were transitioning into independent living, allowing them to obtain on-the-job skills, and she regularly participated on the career panel for Mundelein High School during the program year; she also worked with the local Girl Scouts organization to provide troop training at Debbie's Floral Shoppe, giving scouts the opportunity to earn badges in horticulture by learning the process of floral and plant care; and

WHEREAS, Nell Rice served as chair of the University of Illinois Extension Foundation for six years; she also served as chair of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce since 2019; and

WHEREAS, Nell Rice will be remembered for being a mother, grandmother, sister, trusted friend, and community advocate; 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 Marion LyNell "Nell" Rice 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 Nell Rice as an expression of our deepest sympathy.