HR0531 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0531 LRB103 35881 MST 65966 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Marian Sanfilippo, who passed away peacefully on December 3, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Marian Sanfilippo was born in Chicago on March 25, 1935; she attended Providence High School in Chicago and received her bachelor's degree from DePaul University in 1956; she married the love of her life, Jasper B. Sanfilippo, at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Chicago on July 14, 1956; and

WHEREAS, Marian Sanfilippo worked as a second grade schoolteacher; and

WHEREAS, Marian Sanfilippo's family made their home in Barrington Hills; she raised her children and supported her husband's business endeavors as head of John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Incorporated; she also supported his passion for collecting automatic music machines and steam engines, eventually amassing a world-renowned private collection; her family began opening their home to local charity events in 1985, which featured concerts on their 1927 Wurlitzer Theater Organ with 2,400 pipes; and

WHEREAS, By 1992, these charity events quickly outgrew the family's living room, and Marian Sanfilippo's family constructed a 325-seat theater addition to their home, the Place de la Musique, and expanded the Wurlitzer Organ to feature 8000 pipes, making it the largest theater pipe organ ever built and nearly a third larger than the organ at Radio City Music Hall in New York City; in addition, the estate houses the restored Eden Palais originally built in 1890, the most complete example of a European Salon Carousel in existence; the collection contributed to the preservation of hundreds of automatic musical instruments, phonographs, antique arcade and gambling machines, and many thousands of other mechanical inventions; and

WHEREAS, Marian Sanfilippo was always a smiling presence at the front door, welcoming hundreds of guests at each event into the family's home for concerts on the theater organ and gala charity events; over the years, her family's efforts through the Sanfilippo Foundation have helped to raise well over 25 million dollars for local, regional, and national charities, benefiting children and families, health and human services, and arts and culture; she and Jasper attended nearly every event for years, often holding hands during the concerts; and

WHEREAS, Marian Sanfilippo was a devout Catholic, and she loved her parish, Saint Anne Catholic Community Church in Barrington; and

WHEREAS, Marian Sanfilippo was always quick to share laughs and attention with everyone she met; she had a warm and giving personality and will be remembered with deep gratitude for the contributions that she made through her philanthropy and her love of family, friends, and community; and

WHEREAS, Marian Sanfilippo was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 63 years, Jasper; and

WHEREAS, Marian Sanfilippo is survived by her children, John, Jim, Jeffrey, Lisa, and Jasper; 13 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Marian Sanfilippo 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 Marian Sanfilippo as an expression of our deepest sympathy.