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90_HR0016
LRB9001703CBcbD
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS,
3 You are not forgotten loved one
4 Nor will you ever be
5 As long as life and memory last
6 We will remember thee
7 We miss you now
8 Our hearts are sore
9 As time goes by
10 We will miss your more
11 Your loving smile
12 Your gentle face
13 No one can fill
14 Your vacant place
15 -Author Unknown; and
16 WHEREAS, The members of this Body learned with great
17 sadness of the death of Anne Marie Ryan, daughter of Attorney
18 General and Mrs. Jim Ryan, on Saturday, January 18, 1997; and
19 WHEREAS, Annie Ryan was born on August 10, 1984; she was
20 a sixth grade student at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School
21 in Bensenville; she loved the simple things in life, and had
22 an impact on all whose lives she touched; and
23 WHEREAS, Her life was a testament to higher principles
24 and a spirit of love; and
25 WHEREAS, Even in death, Annie Ryan brought together the
26 entire State of Illinois; government leaders, friends, and
27 loved ones from all walks of life gathered to mourn the loss
28 and give strength to the Ryan family; and
29 WHEREAS, The following eulogy was delivered by Attorney
30 General Jim Ryan in loving tribute to his daughter:
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1 "We can all learn from Annie.
2 That's what my daughter Amy said to me
3 shortly after learning of Annie's death. Amy was
4 right - we can all learn from Annie. Annie had a
5 generous spirt, she was unselfish and cared more
6 about others than she did for herself. A classmate
7 of Annie's described her kindness by saying, 'If you
8 forgot to bring your lunch to school, it's OK; you
9 can always eat Annie's.'
10 Annie was a peacemaker. She hated when
11 people argued. She wanted people to get along -
12 especially in her own family.
13 Annie loved unconditionally.
14 She loved her mother. Boy, did she love her
15 mother.
16 She was proud of her brothers and looked up
17 to her older sister.
18 She worried about her grandmother living
19 alone.
20 Annie loved her cousins and had a special
21 place in her heart for Maggie and Jenny.
22 Kids liked her, and she had a lot of
23 friends but her best friend was her brother Patrick.
24 Annie idolized him, and in her eyes he could do no
25 wrong.
26 She was thrilled to be an aunt, and was
27 crazy about her niece Caitlyn and her nephew Joey.
28 No one had to ask Annie twice to baby-sit. Although
29 Annie can no longer be with them, I know she will be
30 looking over their shoulders as they grow into
31 adulthood.
32 Annie loved me. She worried about me having
33 cancer, and she prayed for me every night. She hated
34 when I flew on airplanes and was always the first
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1 one to greet me when I came home after work. We can
2 all learn from Annie.
3 Like most children her age, Annie enjoyed
4 the simple things in life; her pet rabbit; stuffed
5 animals; playing volleyball and basketball; watching
6 TV with her mom; reading a book; riding her bike;
7 family parties; and the company of other children.
8 Annie lived life to the fullest.
9 Two and a half years ago, my daughter was
10 diagnosed with attention deficit disorder. She found
11 school very challenging. But Annie loved St. Charles
12 Borromeo and all of her classmates. I'll never
13 forget how excited she was to be elected student
14 council representative.
15 Annie was the kind of person you wanted as
16 a friend. She was loyal, trustworthy, caring, a good
17 listener, non-judgmental, someone you could count
18 on.
19 At the tender age of 12, she had core
20 values. For Annie, people mattered more than things.
21 She was quick to forgive and never held a grudge.
22 She was kind and gentle. She took her religion
23 seriously, and I know she loved God. We can all
24 learn from Annie.
25 One of the things I will miss most is her
26 smile. When Annie walked in, she lit up a room. I
27 will miss her enthusiasm, optimism and especially
28 her love. As a father, this is the worst day of my
29 life. Separation is very painful. But as a
30 Christian, I am reminded of the angel's admonition
31 given to those looking for Jesus in his tomb: 'Why
32 do you look for the living among the dead?'
33 So today, with my family, I lift my eyes
34 from this coffin upwards and, with John, recall
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1 words from Revelations: 'Then I saw another heaven
2 and a new earth. I saw the Holy City, the new
3 Jerusalem, coming down out of the heavens from God.
4 Now the dwelling of God is with men and he will live
5 with them. He will wipe away every tear from their
6 eyes. There will be no more death or mourning.'
7 Annie has entered the Holy City. She is
8 blessed and we have been blessed for having known
9 her and we will love her until the end of time.";
10 and
11 WHEREAS, Hundreds of mourners were present at St. Charles
12 Borromeo Catholic Church at the funeral services of Anne
13 Marie Ryan; her fellow students at the parish school
14 participated in the service with readings and offerings of
15 flowers, a stuffed animal, and a school pennant; and
16 WHEREAS, Annie Ryan is no longer physically present among
17 us, but the lessons she has taught us and the memories she
18 leaves will long inspire all who had the privilege of knowing
19 her; and
20 WHEREAS, Warm, kind, and generous, Annie Ryan loved
21 unconditionally and was loved in return; her caring nature
22 will be deeply missed by all, especially her parents, Jim and
23 Marie; her sister, Amy; her brothers, John, Jim, Matthew, and
24 Patrick; her grandmother, Doris Pahls; her niece, Caitlyn;
25 and her nephew, Joey; therefore, be it
26 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
27 NINETIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
28 note with sorrow and regret the death of Anne Marie Ryan and
29 extend our sincere condolences to her family in their hour of
30 sorrow; and be it further
31 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
32 presented to the family of Anne Marie Ryan.