HR0638

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The institution of marriage is one of the
  
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cornerstones upon which our society is built, and a marriage
  
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that has achieved a notable longevity is truly a model for the
  
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people of the State of Illinois; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to congratulate George and Demetra 
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Futris on the occasion of their 60th wedding anniversary; and

 
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    WHEREAS, George C. Futris was born July 4, 1921 in Evanston 
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to Greek immigrants, Constantine and Valsamo Futris; Demetra 
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Psyhogios, the daughter of Greek immigrants Peter and Petrula 
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Psyhogios, was born on March 20, 1922 in Chicago; and

 
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    WHEREAS, George Futris attended Marshall High School on 
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Chicago's west side; he worked as a milkman at Mid-City Dairy; 
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during the Second World War, he served in the Army Air Corps as 
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a sergeant in the 310th Airdrome Squad Training Command in the 
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China-Burma-India theater; he returned home on January 5, 1946; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Demetra Futris graduated from Lucy Flower High 
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School and Wright Junior College in Chicago; during the Second 
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World War, she managed a pool of 100 secretaries for the 
 


 






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Insurance Division of the United States Army; and

 
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    WHEREAS, George and Demetra Futris met in the spring of 
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1946 at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago's 
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Austin neighborhood, where they enjoyed each other's company at 
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a variety of young adult activities sponsored by the church; on 
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Christmas Eve of 1946, George waited for Demetra on the steps 
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of the church to give her a gift; before he could give it to 
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her, he asked for a penny because the brooch and matching 
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earrings had sharp points; it was then that George asked 
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Demetra to go on their first official date; on that first date, 
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on January 4, 1947, George proposed and Demetra accepted; they 
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were married on September 21, 1947 at the Assumption Church in 
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Chicago, surrounded by family and friends; and
 
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    WHEREAS, George and Demetra Futris have been retired since 
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1990; after his return from the U.S. Army, George went back to 
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work at Mid-City Dairy until 1962, when he bought a diner at 
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5840 W. Roosevelt Road in Chicago; Big George's became a 
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neighborhood institution and was well known for its chili, 
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which was named one of the top five in the Chicago area in Pat 
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Bruno's Best of Chicago book and in Bruno's and other food 
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critics' columns over many years; George and Demetra sold the 
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business and their home and retired to an active adult 
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community in Plainfield in 1990; they still reside in their 
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Plainfield home; and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, During their 60 years of marriage, George and 
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Demetra Futris have had three children; the oldest, Valerie 
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Christine, has been married to Dean A. Dranias for 37 years and 
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has one son, Patrick Terrance, and a grandson, Skyler; their 
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second child, Dean George, has been married to Denise Kanton 
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for almost 34 years and has three children, Lauren, Logan Dean, 
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and Dana; their youngest child, Peter George, has been married 
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to Marcey Donlan for 22 years and has two daughters, Ashley Ann 
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and Katie Rose; and
 
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    WHEREAS, George and Demetra Futris will celebrate this 
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auspicious anniversary with their family and close friends at a 
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luncheon on August 12, 2007; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The respect for marriage reaches one of its
  
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highest plateaus when a couple such as George and Demetra 
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celebrate
their diamond wedding anniversary; George and 
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Demetra stand as
  examples of the best of our society, and their 
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love and
  devotion to each other and to their family and friends 
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serve as
a reminder to all that hard work, dedication, and love 
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can make
a difference in today's world; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate George and Demetra Futris on the occasion of their 
 


 






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sixtieth wedding anniversary; that we commend them for 
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achieving a long and happy marriage, blessed with children, 
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grandchildren, and rich in friendships; and that we wish them 
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happiness and good health in the future; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to George and Demetra Futris as a symbol of our 
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esteem and respect.