MEMORIAL RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Mary Frances Wotowic, born on December 7, 1913, was called by God to her eternal reward on September 25, 2012, at the age of 98; and
WHEREAS, The City Council has been informed of her passing by The Honorable Margaret Laurino, Alderman ofthe 39th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Mary Frances Wotowic was an active and vital member of her community. The beloved wife of the late Stanley J. Wotowic; loving mother of Annette M. (Charles) Malsbury of St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, Paul J. Wotowic, M.D. of Danville, California, David J. Wotowic, J.D. of American Canyon, and Laura A. Wotowic, R.N., M.S.N, of American Canyon; cherished sister of Chester (Mary) Howaniec of Norridge, Illinois, Jane M. Kedzierski of Chicago, Illinois, the late Walter, the late John F. Howaniec and the late Catherine Mix; treasured grandmother of Wes and Evan Malsbury, and Emma and Kenny McGill; dear great grandmother of Dean Chapin Malsbury, Mary Frances Wotowic leaves a legacy of faith, compassion, dignity and love; and
WHEREAS, Mary Frances Wotowic was born in Portage, Pennsylvania, where she lived until she graduated from Portage Township High School at the age of seventeen; and
WHEREAS, Mary Frances Wotowic moved to Chicago in order to attend St. Mary of Nazareth School of Nursing; and
WHEREAS, Mary Frances Wotowic worked as a hospital, industrial (during World War II), Tuberculosis Sanitarium and public health nurse, after graduating from St. Mary of Nazareth School of Nursing; and
WHEREAS, Mary Frances Wotowic, after raising her four children, resumed her career as a Head Nurse in Nuclear Medicine and in the Emergency Room at Cook County Hospital in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Mary Frances Wotowic received numerous awards and commendations as an R.N., while working at Cook County Hospital, including a Special Commendation for being the nurse in charge of coordinating and directing emergency room procedures during the famous Illinois Central Railroad Crash in the mid-1970's, where over 100 people were injured and the Cook County Hospital Emergency Room received the majority ofthe crash victims; and
WHEREAS, Mary Frances Wotowic loved gardening, sewing, crochet, canning fruits and vegetables, and playing "slide guitar"; and
WHEREAS, Mary Frances Wotowic was a very intelligent, strong-willed and kind woman, who believed in equal opportunities in education and healthcare for all people; and
WHEREAS, Mary Frances Wotowic definitely was a "woman ahead of her time",
and
WHEREAS, Mary Frances Wotowic will be deeply missed, but the memory of her character, intelligence and compassion will live on in those who knew and loved her; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this third day of October 2012, do hereby express our sorrow on the death of Mary Frances Wotowic and extend to her family and friends our deepest sympathy; and
Be It Further Resolved, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Mary Frances Wotowic.
MARGARET LAURINO Alderman, 39th Ward