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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Mary Jean
4DeMattei of Marion, who passed away on July 17, 2016; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Mary DeMattei was born in Benton to James G. and
6Marie (Huelbig) O'Hara on December 17, 1930; she graduated from
7Benton High School in 1948 and attended Bethel Women's College
8from 1948 to 1950; she earned her bachelor's degree in
9education from Southern Illinois University in 1952; she
10married Clarence E. DeMattei in 1954; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Mary DeMattei's teaching career lasted over 25
12years; her passion was kindergarten and she had a positive
13impact on hundreds of children and colleagues; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Mary DeMattei was active in her community; she was
15a member of the First Baptist Church in Marion for 60 years,
16where she belonged to the Dorcas class; she was a life member
17of the Marion Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, and later, the
18Heartland Regional Medical Center; she donated blood for the
19American Red Cross for many years; she served as a member of
20the Marion Cultural and Civic Center Foundation and as a
21member, volunteer, and curator for the Williamson County
22Historical Museum in Marion; she was a retired member of the

 

 

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1National, Illinois, and Marion Education Associations, the
2Alpha Delta Kappa Honorary Sorority for Women Educators, and
3the National Society for Daughters of the American Revolution;
4and
 
5    WHEREAS, Mary DeMattei was an avid reader; she enjoyed yard
6work, uncovering family genealogy, knitting, quilting, and
7building homes and completing renovations; she had multiple
8collections and spent many hours "coining" with her children
9and grandchildren and teaching them the history and value of
10United States currency; she worked with her husband to tackle
11many jobs and was able to help her six children build or
12renovate homes; she and her husband spent 10 years restoring
13and saving the now historic Stotlar-DeMattei Home in Marion and
14their home was listed on the National Register of Historic
15Places in 2002; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Mary DeMattei was a sports fan; she attended
17family sporting events without fail, and if she was not
18attending a game, meet, or match, there was sure to be one
19playing on her television; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Mary DeMattei was preceded in death by her
21parents; her brother, James O'Hara; her sister-in-law, Mary Lee
22O'Hara; her nieces, Jama King and Susan O'Hara; and her
23great-niece, Sara Beth Phillips; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Mary DeMattei is survived by her husband of 61
2years, Clarence; her children, J.J. (Teresa), Clay (Lety), Mike
3(Ronda), Gina (Larry) Crippen, John, and Jenna (John) Fletcher;
4her grandchildren, Brad (Britni) DeMattei, Bryan (Kellee)
5DeMattei, Emily DeMattei, Brody DeMattei, Kevin Crippen, Clay
6(McKenzie) Crippen, Caroline Fletcher, and David Fletcher; and
7her nephew, Jimmy O'Hara; therefore, be it
 
8    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
9NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, we
10mourn the passing of Mary Jean DeMattei, and extend our sincere
11condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved
12her; and be it further
 
13    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
14presented to the family of Mary DeMattei as an expression of
15our deepest sympathy.