HR1207 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1207 LRB097 22451 GRL 71285 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to honor Sister Ellen Marie Ryan for her career accomplishments and for the scholarship created in her name; and

WHEREAS, Sister Ellen Ryan has served as a music teacher at Mother McAuley High School for 28 years, during which she taught a wide variety of music classes, ranging from general music to chorus and a cappella to strings; during her tenure at Mother McAuley, she taught thousands of students, directed hundreds of concerts, and chaperoned dozens of trips across the country, from nursing home performances and theatrical productions to trips visiting those feeling sick or depressed to sing them a song on Valentine's Day; she also organized madrigal dinners and taught herself to play numerous instruments, such as the violin, French horn, cello, bassoon, and oboe, so that she could better teach her students who wanted to learn those instruments; and

WHEREAS, Under Sister Ellen Ryan's leadership, the Mother McAuley music department multiplied from one full-time teacher to 4, with 2 of her former students as current teachers; and

WHEREAS, Sister Ellen Ryan has remained active in the McAuley community; she currently volunteers a few days each week in the McAuley Office of Institutional Advancement and also coordinates the McAuley alumnae chorus; she plans liturgies for the Sisters of Mercy, sings in the choir at St. Barnabas Church, and teaches piano lessons at Mercy Housing at Wentworth Commons; and

WHEREAS, On June 14, 2012, various members of the Mother McAuley community, including alumnae, faculty, staff, donors, and other guests, hosted "Music & Memories with Sr. Ellen", a musical tribute to their legendary music teacher and choir director; held in the Mother McAuley Auditorium, more than 200 people attended the evening, which featured a performance by the McAuley Alumnae Choir and others who returned to campus to lend their voices in homage of Sister Ellen, while more than 170 members of a Facebook group signed up for a page devoted to Sister Ellen; the event raised more than $10,000, enough to endow a scholarship in Sr. Ellen's name; and

WHEREAS, Sister Ellen Ryan serves as a model of hard work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor Sister Ellen Marie Ryan for her accomplishments and wish her continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Sister Ellen Ryan as a symbol of our esteem and respect.