Bill Text: IL SR1335 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Mourns the death of Caroline Jean (Lyczak) Downs of Oak Park.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2022-12-01 - Resolution Adopted [SR1335 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2021-SR1335-Introduced.html
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1 | SENATE RESOLUTION
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2 | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened | ||||||
3 | to learn of the death of Caroline Jean (Lyczak) Downs of Oak | ||||||
4 | Park, who passed away on March 15, 2022 at the age of 75; and
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5 | WHEREAS, Caroline Downs grew up on her family's farm | ||||||
6 | outside of Woodhull and attended Alwood High School; she | ||||||
7 | earned her bachelor's degree from Lawrence University in | ||||||
8 | Wisconsin and obtained her Master of Social Work from Smith | ||||||
9 | College in Massachusetts; during her college years, she served | ||||||
10 | as an intern at the former Billings Hospital, which was | ||||||
11 | located on the campus of the University of Chicago; and
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12 | WHEREAS, Caroline Downs spent her early working years as a | ||||||
13 | drug and alcohol counselor for employees at U.S. Steel's South | ||||||
14 | Works plant in South Chicago; she later started her own | ||||||
15 | private counseling practice, which lasted for more than 30 | ||||||
16 | years; and
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17 | WHEREAS, In 1987, Caroline Downs joined the clinical staff | ||||||
18 | of the Cathedral Counseling Center; throughout her career, she | ||||||
19 | seized many opportunities for professional development; she | ||||||
20 | worked until her passing; and
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21 | WHEREAS, Caroline Downs advocated for social justice |
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1 | causes and was active in local progressive politics; she | ||||||
2 | campaigned for Rudy Lozano, who became Chicago's first Mexican | ||||||
3 | American alderperson in 1982; she also contributed to Betty | ||||||
4 | Van Wyk's mid-1980s upset victory to become Oak Park's | ||||||
5 | township clerk; through the former race, she also met her | ||||||
6 | future husband, Michael Lyczak; and
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7 | WHEREAS, Caroline Downs enjoyed multiple hobbies, | ||||||
8 | including reading, playing and studying piano, solving | ||||||
9 | crossword and jigsaw puzzles, entertaining, and cooking; she | ||||||
10 | was appreciated for her cinnamon rolls and her hearty laugh by | ||||||
11 | friends and family; and
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12 | WHEREAS, Caroline Downs was passionate about learning her | ||||||
13 | family history, leading her to travel to Scotland's Isle of | ||||||
14 | Islay on two separate occasions to experience where her | ||||||
15 | ancestors once lived; and
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16 | WHEREAS, Caroline Downs was preceded in death by her | ||||||
17 | brothers, Duncan and Thomas Downs; and
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18 | WHEREAS, Caroline Downs is survived by her husband, | ||||||
19 | Michael; her son, Michael Benjamin Lyczak; and her sister, | ||||||
20 | Mary Elizabeth Dickerson; therefore, be it
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21 | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL |
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1 | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of | ||||||
2 | Caroline Jean (Lyczak) Downs and extend our sincere | ||||||
3 | condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved | ||||||
4 | her; and be it further
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5 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
6 | presented to the family of Caroline Downs as an expression of | ||||||
7 | our deepest sympathy.
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