SR0442 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0442 LRB104 15569 ECR 28735 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Lynn Ann Galuska Elsen, who passed away on May 21, 2025 at the age of 68; and

WHEREAS, Lynn Galuska Elsen was born to Raymond and Stella Galuska in Chicago in 1956; she was the third eldest of four children, growing up with her siblings, Raymond (Connee) Galuska, Denise (Paul) Rexroat, and Ellen (Robert) Paulson; and

WHEREAS, Lynn Galuska Elsen spent her childhood in St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish of Oak Lawn, and she was educated at Mount Assisi High School; and

WHEREAS, Lynn Galuska Elsen continued her education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she received her nursing degree and met her husband, Michael; and

WHEREAS, Lynn Galuska Elsen became a high-risk OB nurse at Prentice Hospital in Chicago in 1980, and she committed the next 40 years of her career to caring for and supporting women at Northwestern Memorial Hospital; and

WHEREAS, Lynn Galuska Elsen decided to take the night shifts while her husband would take the day shifts so their children could spend as much time as possible with their parents; and

WHEREAS, Lynn Galuska Elsen and her husband moved to Oak Park in 1981; and

WHEREAS, Lynn Galuska Elsen was an active participant in the Oak Park community, and she attended St. Catherine-St. Lucy's Church every week while being a key member of the choir; and

WHEREAS, Lynn Galuska Elsen was a founding member and trustee for the West Suburban Special Recreation Association; and

WHEREAS, Lynn Galuska Elsen co-founded Together In the Loss of a Child (TLC), a program designed to support grieving mothers who have lost their children, which she led for over 20 years at Northwestern Memorial Hospital; and

WHEREAS, Lynn Galuska Elsen received the Nora Cooney Mara Compassionate Care Award in 2020 for her extraordinary level of care, and she continued to offer consistent support, friendship, and empathy to her colleagues and patients; and

WHEREAS, Lynn Galuska Elsen and her husband treasured their simple, joyful life, marking their anniversaries with trips to Door County, where they camped or stayed in cozy bed-and-breakfasts and enjoyed their favorite cherry pie at local fish boils; and

WHEREAS, Lynn Galuska Elsen and her husband were a perfect pair, especially on the dance floor, where he would spin her around as if they were the only two in the world; and

WHEREAS, Lynn Galuska Elsen was a devoted reader and knitter; she enjoyed cheering with her sons for Chicago sports teams, most frequently the Cubs and the Bears; and

WHEREAS, Lynn Galuska Elsen cherished her time with her grandchildren and revered her many lifelong friendships; and

WHEREAS, Lynn Galuska Elsen is survived by her husband, Michael; her children, Katharine (Patrick) Klette, Michael (Beth) Elsen, and Ian Elsen; and her grandchildren, Lydia, Wesley, Arabella, Maeve, Theo, and Hugh; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Lynn Ann Galuska Elsen and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Lynn Galuska Elsen as an expression of our deepest sympathy.