SR0118

LRB095 11686 KXB 34083 r






1

SENATE RESOLUTION


 
2
    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3
learn of the death of Mary K. Podesta of Washington, D.C., 
4
formerly of Chicago, who passed away on March 9, 2007; and

 
5
    WHEREAS, Mary Podesta was born in Chicago to Greek 
6
immigrant parents; she graduated from high school and worked in 
7
her father's restaurant, where she met a customer who became 
8
her husband; and

 
9
    WHEREAS, After their marriage she became a full-time 
10
homemaker until her children went to school, and then 
11
occasionally worked as a pollwatcher; she then became a 
12
department manager at Bankers Life and Casualty Company in 
13
Chicago for almost 30 years; and

 
14
    WHEREAS, In 1987 Mary Podesta moved to Washington, D.C. and 
15
became known as "Mama Podesta" to the many politicians, 
16
lobbyists, staffers, and others who became acquainted with her 
17
fine cooking at Democratic dinners and fundraisers; her famous 
18
pesto, which came from a recipe of her husband's family and 
19
originated in the Liguria region of northwestern Italy, was a 
20
hit at the many parties and dinners where she cooked and 
21
prepared the meals; and

 
 


 






SR0118
- 2 -
LRB095 11686 KXB 34083 r




1
    WHEREAS, Mary Podesta was preceded in death by her husband, 
2
John D. Podesta Sr.; and

 
3
    WHEREAS, Mary Podesta was the mother of Tony (Heather) and 
4
John (Mary) Podesta; the grandmother of Megan (Gordon) Rouse 
5
and Mae and Gabe Podesta; the great-grandmother of  Maribel and 
6
Gabriel Rouse; and the sister of  Evelyn (Spiro) Carres; 
7
therefore, be it

 
8
    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL 
9
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
10
her family and friends, the passing of Mary Podesta; and be it 
11
further

 
12
    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
13
presented to the family of Mary Podesta as a symbol of our 
14
sympathy.