SR0426 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0426 LRB104 15432 ECR 28587 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Meg Ryan Fitzgerald of Chicago, who passed away on February 28, 2025; and

WHEREAS, Meg Fitzgerald, the daughter of Dan and Nancy (Braida) Fitzgerald, was born in Spring Valley on April 26, 1985; she married Kevin Turk on April 21, 2017; and

WHEREAS, Meg Fitzgerald was raised in Oglesby, where she attended Holy Family School and St. Bede Academy; she enjoyed spending time with her loved ones, especially her many cousins and friends, reading, attending music concerts, learning, and playing sports; she always honored commitments and dedicated herself to doing her best, and she was known for her thoughtfulness, kindness, patience, and her abilities in listening, showing gratitude, and expressing thankfulness; and

WHEREAS, Meg Fitzgerald received a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from DePaul University in 2007 and a Master of Arts in Child Development with a specialization in Administration from the Erikson Institute in Chicago in 2015; she began her professional teaching career as a preschool teacher in 2007 for the Diocese of Chicago at Immaculate Conception Catholic School in the Old Town neighborhood, where she later became its early childhood director; and

WHEREAS, Meg Fitzgerald was hired as a founding teacher for Bennett Day School, a new progressive school in the West Loop in Chicago, in 2013; she later served as curriculum coordinator and director of the Early Childhood program as the school expanded to serve pre-K through high school students, and she played an integral part on the planning team for the school's building expansion; she also served as a presenter at multiple early childhood education conferences and was published in the National Association for the Education of Young Children's journal, Teaching Young Children; and

WHEREAS, Meg Fitzgerald was a member of the Immaculate Conception-St. Joseph School Board, and she served as vice president of the Commercial Park Advisory Council in the West Town neighborhood; and

WHEREAS, Meg Fitzgerald was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Richard and Mary Lou Braida; her paternal grandparents, Donald and Gertrude (Roemmich) Fitzgerald; her uncles, Rick Braida and David Fitzgerald; and her aunt, Jane (Braida) Dzierzynski; and

WHEREAS, Meg Fitzgerald is survived by her husband of eight years, Kevin; her twin children, Edith Jane Turk and William Fitzgerald Turk; her sister, Dana Fitzgerald; her parents; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Meg Ryan Fitzgerald 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 Meg Fitzgerald as an expression of our deepest sympathy.