SR0968 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0968 LRB096 23940 KXB 43336 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Ruthanna L. "Nan" Day of Peoria, who passed away on September 26, 2010; and

WHEREAS, She was born January 11, 1943, in Canton to Harry and Virginia (Blewett) Lock; she married John William Day June 11, 1965, in Canton; and

WHEREAS, She was a schoolteacher for the Peoria and East Peoria public schools for 38 years, retiring in 2005; she was a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Peoria, where she played a Cassavant-Freres Pipe Organ as the church organist; and

WHEREAS, Her first experience with music was with ballet lessons at the age of 3; her keyboard training began with pipe organ lessons at the First Federated Church in Peoria when she was 8 years old; at age 11, she was appointed church organist at the Congregational Church in Canton; during high school, she received college credit as her organ training continued at the Bradley University School of Music; and

WHEREAS, She enrolled as a music major at Bradley University but switched to elementary education; she graduated with a double major in music and education; her first teaching position was a second grade class at St. Patrick's Elementary School in Washington, where she also played for school events, followed by a first grade position with the Peoria public schools for nine years; and

WHEREAS, After her son was born, she returned to teaching with a kindergarten position at Armstrong Elementary School in East Peoria Elementary School District 86; Carson Pirie Scott & Company featured her as a model in several style shows and she was pictured in clothing magazines; she was a guest artist on the Pipes on the Prairie Program on WCBU-FM; during this time, she was elected dean of the Organ Guild in Peoria; and

WHEREAS, She began graduate study at Bradley University and completed a master's degree in human development counseling in 2000; she was inducted into Chi Sigma Iota, Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International, in recognition of scholastic and professional excellence; she chose to return to her musical roots when she left her first grade classroom at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School to assume the position of chorus teacher at Woodrow Wilson, Shute, and Lincoln Schools; and

WHEREAS, She was preceded in death by her parents; and

WHEREAS, Ruthanna Day is survived by her husband; her son, John William Day Jr.; her brother, Garry (Kathy) Lock; her nieces, Ashley and Terri; and her nephew, Brandon Lock; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Ruthanna Day; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Ruthanna Day as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.