SR0913 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0913 LRB102 26320 ECR 36361 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Frances Elizabeth "Fran" Martin Sheffer of Aurora, who passed away on January 1, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Fran Sheffer was born to Fred and Margaret (Baker) Martin in Litchfield on April 29, 1938; she graduated from Oregon Community High School in 1956; she graduated from Moser Business College in Chicago in 1958; she initially married at First United Methodist Church Chapel in the Sky in 1959; she married again at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Aurora in 1978; and

WHEREAS, Fran Sheffer worked in the legal, accounting, administrative, and political fields throughout central and northern Illinois for many years; she was the longtime district office administrator of former Illinois State Senator Chris Lauzen, for whom she handled difficult constituent service questions and concerns in a patient, efficient manner; and

WHEREAS, Fran Sheffer had a lifelong love for live theater; through the years, she had season tickets to various venues, including the Drury Lane and First Folio Theatres in Oak Brook, the Paramount Theatre in Aurora, the Philip Lynch Theatre in Romeoville, the Theatre of Western Springs, the Steel Beam Theatre and Mainstage Theatre at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, the Music Theatre Works in Evanston, the Fireside Theatre in Ft. Atkinson, Wisconsin, and the Fine Arts Centre, Albright Community Theatre, and Fermilab Theatres in Batavia; she also attended area high school and college productions and the occasional production at other venues in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin; while living in Belvidere, she also served as a set dresser for the now shuttered Shady Lane Theatre in Marengo for two years; and

WHEREAS, Fran Sheffer was committed to her faith; she was a member of the Village Bible Church in Aurora; she served in various capacities at the church since 2006, including prayer chain coordinator; she previously attended Grace Church of DuPage in Warrenville and Westminster Presbyterian Church in Aurora; she was also a member of the Heart Sisters group that provides information to individuals suffering from heart disease; and

WHEREAS, Fran Sheffer was preceded in death by her husband, Cloyde B. (Jim) Sheffer; her parents; her brothers, Bradley, Jeffrey, Gregory, and Douglas; her stepson, Steven Sheffer; her aunts and uncles; and her cousins; and

WHEREAS, Fran Sheffer is survived by her sons, Scott (Cindy) Kuntzelman and Stuart (Jennifer) Kuntzelman; her sister, Beverly (Michael) Mason; her stepchildren, Sarr (Susan) Sheffer, Sherilyn (Doug) Gould, Sarana (Mark) Rogers, and Stewart Sheffer; her grandsons, Ryan Kuntzelman, Wade Kuntzelman, Nick (Lauren) Vicari, and Josiah Gould; her granddaughters, Geniva (Bill) Martin, Karinne (Pratik) Patel, Katie (Justin) Weitzel, and Kristin Sheffer; her numerous great-grandchildren; her nieces and nephews; her cousins; and her friends; 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 Frances Elizabeth "Fran" Martin Sheffer 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 Fran Sheffer as an expression of our deepest sympathy.