SR1290 LRB103 43160 ECR 76422 r
1		SENATE RESOLUTION
2		WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3		to learn of the death of Barbara Ann (Fox) Vanek, who passed
4		away on June 6, 2024; and
5		WHEREAS, Barbara Vanek was born in Seymour, Indiana on
6		July 14, 1943 and was the only daughter of Harry and Alice Fox;
7		and
8		WHEREAS, Barbara Vanek attended Our Lady of Grace Academy
9		in Beech Grove, Indiana and graduated from Saint
10		Mary-of-the-Woods College in 1965; and
11		WHEREAS, Barbara Vanek spent two years working as a
12		Catholic extension volunteer in Guymon, Oklahoma and, while
13		there, became lifelong friends with Claudia Zinnanni; and
14		WHEREAS, Barbara Vanek moved to Chicago, where she met the
15		love of her life, Wayne Vanek, in 1969; she and Wayne married
16		at Childerley Chapel in Wheeling on December 10, 1972; and
17		WHEREAS, Barbara Vanek and Wayne moved to Oak Park after
18		marrying and became active members of St. Catherine-St. Lucy
19		Church, where they raised their children and pioneered a
20		community, and she led the children's choir; and

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1		WHEREAS, Barbara Vanek served as the secretary of
2		Longfellow School in the early 1990s before joining RUSH
3		Medical Center as the office manager of the Youth Suicide
4		Prevention Program; she continued her career at RUSH, becoming
5		chief administrator of the Office of Research Compliance; and
6		WHEREAS, Barbara Vanek served on the board of PCC
7		Community Wellness Center for 18 years, helping them expand
8		into multiple locations on Chicago's West Side, which included
9		Illinois' first freestanding Birth Center; and
10		WHEREAS, Barbara Vanek loved to cultivate community
11		through her cooking and baking, which took the form of
12		homemade cakes and cookies for family, friends, neighbors, and
13		church functions; she also spent 16 years helping serve meals
14		at a Housing Forward, formerly PADS, overnight shelter; and
15		WHEREAS, Barbara Vanek's cooking and baking were shared
16		across numerous tables and helped cultivate countless hours of
17		laughter and deep conversation whether those tables were set
18		for breakfast or playing cards or served as the place of
19		theological discussions; and
20		WHEREAS, Barbara Vanek is survived by her husband, Wayne;
21		her children, Nathan, Ray (Rachel), and Seth; her

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1		daughters-in-law, Allison Vanek, Hillary Stone, and Saunia
2		Powell; and her grandchildren, Alex Vanek and Sasha Vanek;
3		therefore, be it
4		RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
5		ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
6		Barbara Ann (Fox) Vanek and extend our sincere condolences to
7		her family, friends and all who knew and loved her; and be it
8		further