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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Soledad "Shirley" Velasquez, 96, who
4passed away on February 9, 2015; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Shirley Velasquez, was a pillar and inspiration of
6the Illinois Latino community, and the beloved wife of the late
7Arturo Velasquez, the wind beneath his wings for 72 years; and
 
8    WHEREAS, The life partnership of Shirley and Arturo
9Velasquez began with a chance, love-at-first-sight meeting at a
10Chicago park, with an immediate, heartfelt, and binding
11declaration of love from Arturo leading to a storied marriage;
12and
 
13    WHEREAS, Shirley Velasquez was a true matriarch, a mother,
14grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother,
15whose children are known for their good works and commitment to
16the Mexican community; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Shirley Velasquez, an avid fan of the Chicago
18White Sox, once threw out a pitch to open a game; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Shirley Velasquez was a founding member of Cordi
20Marian Auxiliary, Lady Commander of the Equestrian Order of the

 

 

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1Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, and former member of the Azteca
2Lions Club; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Shirley Velasquez is survived by her children,
4Arthur Raymond (Joanne) Velasquez, Carmen Velasquez, Maria
5Elena Hanson, and Edward (Marianne) Velasquez; her
6grandchildren, Nannette (Jim) Zander, Renee (Jim) Togher,
7Arthur Robert (Griselda) Velasquez, Suzanne (John) Sheehy,
8Daniel Velasquez, Debra (Brad) Sasse, Dia (Gabriel) Pescetto,
9Robyn (Mike) Blake, Edward (Beth) Velasquez, Jaime (Tom)
10Darwin, and Janel (Scott) Mitchell; as well as many nieces and
11nephews; she was a great-grandmother of 21 and
12great-great-grandmother to one; sister to Rito, Manuel,
13Angelo, and the late Leopoldo, Angelina, Joseph, Virginia, and
14Raymond; therefore, be it
 
15    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
16ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
17her family and friends, the passing of Soledad "Shirley"
18VelAsquez; and be it further
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20presented to the family of Soledad VelAsquez as an expression
21of our sympathy.