HR0542 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0542 LRB103 36542 MST 66649 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Ann Kovalick of Yorkville on the occasion of her 100th birthday; and

WHEREAS, Ann Kovalick was born in Hazelton, Pennsylvania on February 1, 1924; her father drove delivery wagons and worked in coal mines; her mother was a homemaker; at the time, they had no car, television, telephone, or indoor plumbing; and

WHEREAS, Ann Kovalick graduated from Hazelton High School in 1942 and went to work in the Craft Factory making men's shirts; she worked there throughout World War II; after the war, she loved going dancing at big band and swing band concerts; eventually, she waved at a guy named Joe, and they subsequently married and moved to Illinois in 1947; they lived in Aurora for a time, but later they moved to a farm in Bristol; and

WHEREAS, Ann Kovalick and her husband raised dairy cattle and farmed acres of corn and beans; later, they moved to Sugar Grove to another farm; she helped with everything on the farm and raised her three children, Barbara, Joe, and Ann; she also raised prize-winning pigs and had innumerable pets, including dogs, cats, birds, foxes, and racoons; she also had several dachshunds; and

WHEREAS, Ann Kovalick's parents later moved to Illinois, where they lived in an apartment on her farm; her dad worked at a factory in Aurora until he retired; they were well taken care of by the family until they passed; and

WHEREAS, Ann Kovalick never learned how to drive; she relied on friends and family to take her places; she was a good cook and a wonderful baker; her pies won many ribbons at local fairs; everyone who visited was welcome at her table to enjoy some of her homemade goodies; and

WHEREAS, Ann Kovalick and her husband were very active with the American Legion; they helped cook at legion functions; her husband served in several offices, and she was in the auxiliary; their youngest daughter was involved in all of the parades dressed in red, white, and blue; and

WHEREAS, Ann Kovalick's husband worked for seed companies, and they were able to do a lot of traveling with the dealers; cruises were their favorite; they also toured Hawaii, and her favorite story from that trip was about the time she was leaving a pineapple plantation and her husband took off in the car without her; she also loved Las Vegas and playing the slot machines; she visited Deadwood, South Dakota with her daughters and attended a motorcycle rally in Sturgis; and

WHEREAS, Ben's Giant Pumpkins was formed on Ann Kovalick's farm, and for many years, acres of pumpkins, squash, and Indian corn were grown; she sold pick your own pumpkins for the month of October and had many customers from all over the area; and

WHEREAS, Ann Kovalick's husband, Joe, passed away in 2007 during October; his loss is still felt, and her son now carries on the farming; and

WHEREAS, Ann Kovalick's son lives on and runs the family farm; one of her daughters lives in Missouri, and the other daughter now resides in Texas; she is a proud grandmother of five and a great-grandmother of 10; and

WHEREAS, Ann Kovalick's worst enemy was arthritis; the old farm house with many stairs became too difficult for her to manage, so she now resides at Heritage Woods Assisted Living Center in Yorkville, where she is taken care of and has many friends; her family visits her and lights up her day; she now drives, but in a wheelchair, so everyone needs to look out; she is called an energizer bunny because she just keeps going; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Ann Kovalick on this historic occasion and wish her the best 100th birthday celebration; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Ann Kovalick as a symbol of our respect and esteem.